I raise an eyebrow, surprised by her words. Without meaning to, I stop dancing for a moment. “Why would you say that?” I ask, feeling my heart as it pounds in my chest.

Shana, however, doesn’t miss a beat. Instead, she pushes me to keep dancing. Her eyes twinkle with a secret, and she leans in closer. “Because, Karl, I'm only here tonight because my father forced me to attend. There's no real spark between us, no connection.”

Her words leave me taken aback. So I'm not the only one who sensed it. “Shana, I'm sorry,” I say. "But you're right. I like you, but I just don't think we...”

“Click?” she asks, cocking her head to the side.

I nod, feeling guilty. “Yes. I'm sorry.”

But much to my surprise, Shana simply shrugs. “Of course we don't,” she says gently. “Because we're both in love with other people.”

My heart skips a beat at her confession. “You... You are?”

She nods. “Karl, I'm in love with someone else; someone that my family doesn't approve of. That's why I'm here—to make my parents happy, even though it's killing me on the inside.”

"Wow, Shana, that's...” I pause, unsure of what to say. To think that I almost wound up in a relationship with someone who was only interested in me to please her parents hurts, but I guess I was no different. Here I was, dancing with a woman who I only agreed to go out with to fulfill my own duties.

“Thank you for telling me,” I finally say with a gentle smile. “And... I have to admit, I feel a sense of kinship with you now,” I continue, laughing slightly.

Shana returns my laugh. “I knew as soon as you saw her walk in,” she says, “that you couldn't get her off your mind. And on our previous dates, I saw how you always seemed so far away. I knew you were thinking of someone else.”

Now, I feel a little guilty again. “I'm sorry. I never meant to make you feel—"

But Shana just shakes her head, cutting me off. “Don’t apologize, Karl. I was far away, too, thinking of my girlfriend. I guess I thought that you and I could maybe grow to love each other in our own twisted way, but seeing the way you looked at your ex-wife just now... I think we would both be suffering in the end,” she says.

“So you think we should go our separate ways? Is that what you're suggesting?” I ask.

She nods, her expression sincere. “Exactly, Karl. Thanks to you, I'm going to go to my love, and I'm going to run away with her, just like we've been wanting to do. And if there's a chance for you to find happiness with Abby again, I would be genuinely happy for you.”

I don't know what to say. I feel an immense relief, as though an enormous weight was just lifted off of my shoulders. But at the same time, I feel a sinking sense of dread, because I'm not sure if Abby even wants me.

After our last encounter in her apartment, I'm not so sure if she’s keen on romance anymore. Not with me, at least.

The song comes to an end, and we slow to a stop. Shana gives me a warm hug and whispers into my ear, “Thank you for a lovely night, Karl. But now, I think it's time for you to go after what your heart truly desires. And I think it's time that I do the same.”

With those parting words, she releases me and walks away, disappearing into the crowd. I watch her go, feeling a mixture of surprise and gratitude. Shana's unexpected support has left me with a newfound determination.

I need to find Abby.

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