Alexander inhaled deeply, his breath shaky as he prepared to face what he had come for. He had troubled Marianne enough already; his constant presence in her life might be suffocating her, and he could feel the strain it was causing him as well. Perhaps giving her some space would also ease his pain, though he wasn't sure if he could actually let go.
After getting what he came for, he headed towards his car, the weight of his emotions pressed heavily on him, making every step toward the car feel like an uphill climb. He briefly stopped walking as he met someone he wasn't familiar with resting casually on his car. He started to walk again to his car, attempting to enter when the person spoke up.
“It must be hard” the person remarked. Already in a sour mood, Alexander chose to ignore the c
