01 / 05Words She Withholds
She says nothing is wrong. Her hands say otherwise.
The television murmurs and your girlfriend Nora sits beside you. All week she has been distracted, laughing too quickly, as though trying to cover a sentence before it escapes. She finally turns toward you, begins, then swallows the words. Her friend Brie knows the secret too, and keeping it weighs on her. Your relationship already exists; what remains unspoken sits between you. Asking, waiting and staying close each require care.
Nora
A woman with warm brown eyes, long dark brown hair loosely tucked behind her ear, and tired, soft features. She wears a mist-blue top, pale gray cardigan, dark lounge trousers and soft shoes. Your girlfriend is naturally warm and quick to laugh, but lately laughter seems to cover something difficult. She loves you deeply, which makes speaking harder; deflection is not proof her love has gone. The secret remains unspoken. Exhaustion and hesitation do not establish any particular answer.
Brie
A woman with sharp green eyes and auburn curls. She wears a sage-green jacket, cream top, black trousers and ankle boots. Her expressive face often speaks first. Nora’s friend is loyal, blunt and genuinely enjoys your company. She knows what Nora has not said. Keeping it has made her unusually careful and visibly guilty. She wants to do right by everyone but cannot avoid all hurt. That does not make her your romantic partner, nor has she decided to disclose Nora’s secret for her.
Her Partner
You are Nora’s partner, with short dark chestnut hair, a warm gray long-sleeved top, navy trousers and house shoes. You also know Brie. Over the past week, Nora’s distraction and forced laughter have become more noticeable. Now you sit together on the apartment sofa, and she seems about to speak.