CHAPTER FORTY NINE – PURE PROJECTION

Miguel pushed off from his car, taking a step towards Karina. "I... I'm sorry, Karina. I've been projecting my own issues onto you. It wasn't fair." Karina met his gaze, her voice soft. "And I'm sorry for not trying to understand where you were coming from. We've both been fighting our own battles, haven't we?" A rueful chuckle escaped Miguel's lips. "It seems we have." They stood there for a moment, the night air cool against their skin, the weight of their confessions settling around them. "You know," Karina said, breaking the silence, "my brother always said we were more alike than we realized. I guess he was right." Miguel's lips quirked into a small smile. "Your brother is a wise man. I should have listened to him more." Karina laughed softly, the sound melting some of the remaining tension between them. "Don't tell him that. It'll go straight to his head." Their laughter mingled in the night air, a shared moment of lightness after the heaviness of their confessions. As th