The Commitments Novels & Stories

She always did. "The Northern Territorial brief," he said, not a question. "Yes." "They're not the only ones." He slid a folder across the table. "Two more came through secondary channels this morning. Eastern Compliance submitted a framework assumption document that treats the layer as a permanent bilateral commitment. They've drafted internal procedure around it." Kaela opened the folder. "They've already drafted procedure." "Three months ago, apparently. They were waiting to see whether anyone raised an objection before finalizing."

That giving any place to her in my heart or mind would make me weak. That's what commitment means to a soldier. It means that that person becomes your weakest link. Everything becomes about her, every decision you make, every idea you have, her happiness is the first thing to cross your mind. And worst of all, and the thing I fear most, you can't breathe without her.

So, my Aziel is afraid of the mouse by his cheese. I keep my two fingers crossed. "A deal is a deal. But we have to agree on a time frame. Because this looks like a committed relationship, but we're not that far." Again, an inexplicable look appears in his eyes. “We are in a committed relationship. You just need to heal before we take the next step.” I frown but decide to avoid a confrontation...

They learned each other’s habits not as strategies, but as preferences. Alexander cooked breakfast on Sundays. Evelyn handled dinners during the week. They argued occasionally, mildly, about music or travel plans, and resolved those disagreements without escalation. Conflict without collapse. One night, as they sat on the balcony watching the city wind down, Alexander spoke thoughtfully. “I used to believe commitment meant narrowing the future,” he said. “That it closed doors.” Evelyn turned to him. “And now.” “Now it feels like it gives the future shape,” he replied. “Like drawing a horizon instead of a wall.”

"The team maintained position through Zurich. Phasing stands." "Rotterdam close," Edmund said. "Q1," I said. "No movement." George looked back to his notes. "Henderson." Alicia didn’t look down this time. "The commitment we made to her is moving," she said. "Catherine's committee will have it before the end of the month. It stays exactly where it belongs." Catherine made a note. Sat back. "The subsidiary formation," Edmund said. "Legal wants thirty minutes before end of week."

Comments were framed as if Evelyn weren’t present. She let it happen for a while. Then someone referenced “future Vance commitments” as if they were a foregone conclusion. Evelyn spoke not sharply, not loudly. “That hasn’t been decided,” she said. The table stilled. The speaker blinked. “I beg your pardon?” Evelyn met his gaze evenly. “Jesse and I discuss commitments together. Assumptions made without that context may not hold.” Jesse didn’t interrupt. He didn’t need to. The message was clear.

"Miss Lily-white ,have a seat. " The only other woman in the room says in a neutral voice. From the shock of seeing the guy from the other night let's say morning, sitting on the other side of the table, I don't bother correcting her. I just sit obediently trying very hard to not meet eyes with him again. Goodness I hope he is not the CEO. I promised myself. I promised myself not another one in my life. But if he is and he probably is, I've already involved myself with him. This is bad! I already broke my own promise.

That vase had been something we’d constructed together, and our initials were carved into the base. Adrian rushed forward, gripping my arm. He brushed a hand over my cheek as if nothing else mattered. "It’s alright. I’ll buy you another one. Lauren, I know you’ve blamed yourself all this time for not being able to conceive. If you can’t, then we won’t. We’ll just adopt." He paused, then spoke carefully, "I have a friend abroad. His whole family died in an accident, leaving behind a two-year-old boy. Lauren, you’ll love him."

“You are more than enough. You’re beautiful in every way.” “It’s just… complicated,” I continue, my voice tinged with regret. “There are responsibilities and commitments in my life that I can’t ignore. I don’t want to lead you on or make promises I can’t keep.” “Well, in that case, we don’t have to have commitments,” she suggests, wrapping her arms around my neck, her breast pressing against my chest, knocking the air out of my lungs in the process. “We can just see where this thing goes, hmm?”

he says with a firm voice but the slight shiver in his words are evident. I take a bold step towards him. “Then why won’t you commit? I’m not asking this because of me.” I swallow hard, “I only want to know why the idea of being with one person sounds like the most horrible thing someone can make you do?” It’s when I stop talking and silence blankets us that I realize how hard I’m breathing. “That’s because it’s the most horrible thing to do. I’m not going to put my entire trust and life into the hands of someone else and risk being broken completely by that person. Commitment gives way too much power.”