The Space Between Here and Almost

Synopsis

THE SPACE BETWEEN HERE AND ALMOST Synopsis At thirty-three, filmmaker Theodosia "Theo" Sinclair lives an "almost" life—almost happy with her boyfriend, almost successful, almost over the person who shattered her three years ago. Then a message arrives from a number she deleted: "I saw your film. All the screenings. I need to talk to you. Please." Sloane. Always Sloane. THE GHOST (2007-2010) Before Sloane, there was Matthew Park—a Korean-American trapped in corporate finance who secretly wrote beautiful essays about identity and not belonging. They met online through MySpace when Theo was twenty-one, and for three years, they built a love story in the digital space between reality and possibility. They talked on MSN Messenger until 3 AM. Experienced synchronicities that felt cosmic. Lived ten minutes apart but never met in person. His family talked about her like she was already theirs. Everyone rooted for them. But Matthew was terrified—disappearing for weeks, watching her from a distance, always running when things felt too real. Until he chose someone physically present over the girl who only existed in his head. Matthew taught Theo what almost felt like. THE MIRROR (2018-2020) At thirty-one, Theo meets Sloane Hartley at a film screening. Their eyes lock across the room, and everything changes. Sloane is everything unexpected—a woman (Theo thought she was straight), an architect, sharp and funny and somehow familiar in a way that defies explanation. What starts as friendship becomes something neither can name. Coffee dates lasting six hours. Conversations where they finish each other's sentences. A recognition so profound it's terrifying—like finding the other half of your soul. But Sloane has a boyfriend. Ethan. Five years together. He's not obviously abusive—he's the subtle kind of toxic that makes you doubt yourself, controls through concern, isolates through love. For two years, Theo and Sloane exist in liminal space. Dancing around what they both feel. The tension unbearable. Both knowing this is once-in-a-lifetime love. Both terrified of what that means. Until one night, everything spills over. A confession. A kiss. A moment of absolute clarity. Then Sloane chooses Ethan. THE BREAKING (2020-2023) Theo is shattered. She cuts contact. Tries to move on. Even reconnects with Matthew—who's finally ready, finally brave, finally available. But Theo can't give him what he needs. Because she's still in love with Sloane. Meanwhile, Sloane is drowning. What she could ignore before becomes unbearable now that she knows what real love feels like. But she's trapped—by fear, by obligation, by the cage Ethan has built around her. Three years of silence. Three years of almost moving on. Three years of living with the ghost of what could have been. THE CHOICE (2025) Sloane has finally left Ethan. She's free. And she's seen every screening of Theo's new film—a film everyone knows is about her. Now Theo must decide: Does she let Sloane back in? After three years of choosing someone else? After the heartbreak? Or does she choose herself? The Space Between Here and Almost is a story about twin flames and toxic love, about the relationships that wake you up even when they don't last, and about learning that sometimes the bravest thing you can do is choose yourself over the person you love most. Some love stories don't have neat endings. Some people teach you what you deserve even if they can't give it to you. And sometimes the most important question isn't whether love is enough—it's whether you're finally ready to stop living in the space between here and almost. For readers who loved The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Red, White & Royal Blue, and Nicholas Sparks—a queer love story about the ones who almost stayed.