A War of Words

A War of Words  

The anxiety withinside the room turned into suffocating. Alex’s piercing gaze shifted from me to Ethan, and I may want to see the wheels handing over his head, calculating, assessing.  

“Anita,” Alex said, his tone deceptively calm, “what’s taking place right here ? Who is this?”  

I opened my mouth to answer, however Ethan stepped forward, his stance protective. “I’m an antique friend. I’m right here due to the fact Anita merits to sense safe— some thing I’m guessing she hasn’t felt in a while.”  

Alex’s jaw tightened, and I noticed a flicker of anger flash in his eyes. “This doesn’t difficulty you,” he said, his voice hardening. “This is among my spouse and me.”  

“Ex-spouse,” I corrected, my voice consistent notwithstanding the knot forming in my stomach.  

Alex flinched, the phrase touchdown like a bodily blow. “We’re now no longer divorced yet,” he said, turning to stand me. “And I’m right here to ensure it doesn’t come to that.” 

Ethan didn’t lower back down. “If you cared a lot approximately this marriage, you wouldn’t have permit it get to this point.”  

“Ethan,” I stated quickly, setting a hand on his arm. I didn’t need this to expand further, and Alex’s mood become notoriously unpredictable. “It’s great . Let me cope with this.”  

Ethan hesitated, his jaw clenched, however eventually, he nodded and stepped lower back . “I’ll be proper outside,” he stated quietly, his gaze lingering on me earlier than he walked to the door.  

The room felt chillier with out him, the silence stretching among Alex and me like a chasm.  

“Why is he right here ?” Alex requested , his voice low however full of slightly contained anger.  

“Because I wished someone,” I stated simply. “And he become there whilst you weren’t.”  

Alex’s eyes darkened, and he took a step closer. “I realize I wasn’t the husband you deserved, Anita, however this?” He gestured closer to the door Ethan had simply exited. “This isn’t the answer.”  

I crossed my arms, forcing myself to keep his gaze. “And what's the answer, Alex? Going lower back to the penthouse? Pretending the whole thing ’s great whilst you bury your self for your paintings again?”  

“That’s now no longer fair,” he stated sharply. “You realize why I paintings as difficult as I do. It’s for us—for our future.”  

“No,” I stated , my voice rising. “It’s for you. Your empire. Your reputation. I become simply … there. A handy fixture for your best life.”  

Alex’s expression faltered, and for the primary time, I noticed a crack in his cautiously built façade. “I didn’t imply to make you sense that manner ,” he stated quietly. “I notion I become providing you with the whole thing you wished .”  

“You gave me the whole thing however you,” I stated , my voice trembling with emotion. “I didn’t need the penthouse or the diamonds or the flamboyant dinners. I desired you, Alex. But you have been in no way there.”  

He ran a hand via his hair, his frustration evident. “I’m right here now,” he stated , stepping closer. “And I’m looking to restore this.”  

“But it’s too late,” I stated , tears welling in my eyes. “I’ve spent goodbye looking to make this paintings , looking to be sufficient for you. And I can’t do it anymore.”  

Alex stared at me, the burden of my phrases sinking in. “So that’s it?” he requested , his voice slightly above a whisper. “You’re simply giving up on us?”  

“I’m now no longer giving up,” I stated , wiping a tear from my cheek. “I’m deciding on myself for once.”  

He opened his mouth to argue, however the sound of the door beginning interrupted him. Ethan stepped inside, his expression unreadable.  

“Is the whole thing okay?” he requested , his gaze flickering among Alex and me.  

Alex became to him, his frustration boiling over. “I instructed you to live out of this.”  

“And I instructed you I’m now no longer going to permit her undergo this alone,” Ethan shot lower back , his voice calm however firm.  

Alex took a step closer to him, his fists clenched. “You assume you realize what she needs? You haven't any concept what we’ve been via —what I’ve executed for her.”  

“And yet, right here she is, damaged and prepared to stroll farfar from you,” Ethan stated , his voice slicing via the anxiety like a blade.  

“Stop,” I stated , my voice shaking. “Both of you, stop.”  

They became to me, the depth in their anger melting into concern.  

“This isn’t a competition,” I stated , my gaze transferring among them. “And it’s now no longer approximately who’s proper or wrong. This is my life, and I’m the only who receives to determine what occurs next.”  

Alex’s shoulders slumped, his anger giving manner to defeat. “So what occurs now?” he requested , his voice slightly audible.  

“I don’t realize ,” I admitted. “But I realize I want time to determine it out— with out you.”  

Alex flinched, however he nodded slowly. “If that’s what you need .”  

“It is,” I stated firmly.  

Alex became to leave, however earlier than he reached the door, he appeared lower back at me. “I nonetheless love you, Anita,” he stated softly. “And I’m now no longer giving up on us. Not yet.”  

I didn’t respond, and the silence that accompanied felt heavier than any phrases ought to .  

When the door subsequently closed at the back of him, I let loose a shaky breath, my legs threatening to offer out underneath me.  

Ethan become via way of means of my facet in an instant, his hand resting gently on my shoulder. “You okay?” he requested gently.  

I nodded, aleven though I wasn’t positive if it become true. “I will be,” I stated , extra to myself than to him.  

Ethan hesitated, then pulled me right into a hug. The warm temperature of his include become a stark assessment to the bloodless vacancy Alex had left at the back of , and for the primary time in a protracted whilst , I felt like I wasn’t alone.  

Later that night, as I sat withinside the quiet of my apartment, my telecellsmartphone buzzed with a brand new message.  

Alex: “I’m leaving the metropolis for a whilst , however this isn’t over. When I come lower back , we’re going to determine this out.”  

I stared on the message, my feelings a whirlwind of bewilderment and exhaustion. But earlier than I ought to reside on it, some other message got here via —from Ethan.  

Ethan: “You did exquisite today. Proud of you. Let me realize in case you want anything.”  

As I examine his phrases , a small spark of wish ignited in my chest. Maybe, simply maybe, this becomes the beginning of something new.