chapter 10: Pushing away
324 Words
The silence in the penthouse feels colder than it should.Morning sunlight streams through the tall windows, but the warmth doesn't touch Isla. She sits curled on the edge of the bed , her hands clasped tightly in her lap, her eyes on the floor. Behind her, Alex stands at the window, his back turned to her, his body rigid.
She breaks the silence first. "Say something."
He doesn't move." I don't know what to say anymore."
That land likes a stone in her chest." You promised we'd figure it out. You say we'd make it work."
He finally turns to face her.His expression is unreasonable, but his voice is tight. " That was before i realized what it would cost you.I can't be the reason you give up Paris, your future,your independence."
"Why are you deciding this for me?" she snaps, rising to her feet."I'm not a girl who need protecting. I can choose for myself."
"And you should," he says, stepping closer. "But everything about me--the media, the pressure, the scrunity-- It will follow you.It already has.I see in your eyes every time a headline drops."
"You don't get to push me away to protect me," she say quietly."That's not love.Thats fear."
His hands fall to his sides."Then maybe fear is all i have left."
Her heart cracks at the words. He's shutting her out-- not because he doesn't care, but because he cares too But that doesn't make it hurt less.
She swallows, fighting the sting in her throat."I don't want to leave like this."
He nods once. "But you should still go."
She walks to him slowly, touches his face. His eyes close for a moment."You don't get to love me halfway, Alex."
He presses a kiss to her forehead, and it feels like goodbye.
"I'm sorry," he whispers.
She steps back.
And then she walks out, leaving behind the man who love her but didn't know how to kept her.
- Writer
