Over the next few months, Emily and the man, whose name was James, stayed in touch through phone calls and text messages. They talked about everything from their favorite books to their deepest fears, and Emily felt like she had finally found someone who understood her on a deep level. However, despite their growing closeness, James never seemed to want to take their relationship to the next level.

One day, Emily decided to take matters into her own hands. She called James and asked him to meet her at a coffee shop near her apartment. When he arrived, she wasted no time getting to the point.

"James, I need to know where we stand," she said. "I feel like we've been dancing around each other for months, and I need to know if you feel the same way I do."

James looked at her with a pained expression. "Emily, I care about you deeply, but I'm not sure I'm ready for a relationship right now. I've been hurt in the past, and I don't want to hurt you."

Emily felt a pang of disappointment, but she tried to hide it. "I understand, James. But can't we just see where this goes? We don't have to put any labels on it. We can just take it one day at a time."

James sighed.