Crestfallen [COMPLETED]

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ - 16

Joanna

Alex stepped into the room, his distant gaze meeting mine. I could see the weariness etched on his face, the heaviness in his eyes.

But I couldn't let this go on any longer. I couldn't let him retreat further into his cold and distant shell.

"Alex, wait," I said softly, my voice trembling slightly as I reached out and gently cupped his face in my hands.

His stubble grazed against my palms, a familiar sensation that sent a pang through my heart.

I looked into his eyes, desperately trying to make a connection.

"It's me, your wife, Jo," I whispered, my fingers brushing against his skin.

"I know these past days have been tough on you. I know you're hurting, but Alex, I am hurting too."

My voice quivered, and I fought back tears.

"Please, Alex, don't shut me out like this," I pleaded, my grip on his face tightening slightly.

"We used to share everything, our joys and sorrows, our dreams and fears. But now... now you're slipping away from me, and it's breaking my heart."

The tears welled up in my eyes, and I blinked them away, my vision momentarily blurred.

"I love you, Alex," I whispered, my voice cracking with emotion.

"I love you more than words can say, and I can't bear to see us drift further apart."

I leaned in, my forehead resting against his, the warmth of the palpable contact even in this strained moment.

Alex's expression remained unchanged, his eyes locked onto mine, but I could see a glimmer of something behind them, a flicker of the man I knew was there somewhere.

"I have to go," he finally spoke, his voice hoarse as he cleared his throat. And just like that, he stepped back.

Freeing from my touch. I watched as he turned and left the room, his retreating figure a painful reminder of hurt.

I stood there for a moment, my hand still outstretched, my heart aching with despair.

I knew it wasn't easy.

But as I wiped away a tear, I held onto  hope—that maybe, just maybe, my words had reached him, and that somewhere deep within, the man I loved was fighting to come back to me.

...............................................................

I was driven by a fire within me to mend what had been broken between us.

Despite the pain and distance, I refused to give up on him, on the love we had shared.

I made the decision to visit Alex in the hospital.

Walking through the sterile halls, my heart raced with anticipation.

As I approached the room, my steps felt heavier with every passing moment, but I refused to let doubt creep in.

Entering the room, my eyes immediately fell on Alex, his figure hunched over as he knelt beside a young child's bed.

His hands were intertwined with the small, fragile ones of the child, their voices carrying soft words.

I couldn't help but smile at the sight, Alex's compassionate nature, his ability to connect with others even in his own pain.

And then, I saw her, the woman standing beside the child's bed, a fellow doctor and colleague of Alex's. Watching her son with my husband with a delighted expression.

Jealousy flared within me like a sudden burst of flames, unexpected and intense. My heart clenched, and I felt a twinge of insecurity gnaw at me. Why was he able to open up to her, to share moments of comfort and connection, while I struggled to reach him?

For a moment, I hesitated, my feet feeling rooted to the spot as  emotions swirled within me. But then, I took a deep breath, reminding myself of my purpose.

I approached Alex and the child, my footsteps determined yet cautious.

As I drew closer, Alex's gaze briefly flickered in my direction, his eyes meeting mine for a fleeting moment.

There was a hint of surprise in his expression, as if he hadn't expected to see me there.

But he quickly turned his attention back to the child and the woman beside him, a sense of familiarity and ease between them that only heightened my insecurities.

Summoning every ounce of courage, I reached out and gently placed a hand on Alex's shoulder.

His reaction was subtle, a slight tensing of his muscles beneath my touch.

"Alex," I spoke softly, my voice carrying a mix of vulnerability and determination.

"Can we talk?"

His gaze shifted back to me, uncertainty mingling with wariness in his eyes.

As the child's mother excused herself, giving us a brief moment of privacy, Alex finally turned his attention fully to me.

.................................................................

"Go home, Joanna," Alex's voice was firm, his eyes avoiding direct contact with mine.

But I stood my ground, determined not to back down.

"I'm not going anywhere, Alex. Whatever it is, we will talk about it right here."

He seemed exasperated, his frustration palpable as he repeated, "Go home."

My heart raced, torn between the need to stand up for myself, and the fear of pushing him further away.

"I'm not budging from here until you hear me out," I asserted, my voice resolute.

In that tense moment, the door swung open, and the same female colleague entered the room.

"Excuse me, Alex, but you're being summoned for this patient's case," she informed him.

"Just a second, Lexi," Alex's tone softened as he addressed her, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy.

As she left the room, the weight of the situation pressed down on us.

"Go home. I have work," he said, his irritation evident.

I fought to keep my emotions in check, to not let him see the cracks forming within me.

"Okay. We'll talk at home,"

I replied with a coldness that masked the ache in my heart. I turned and walked away, my steps carrying the weight of unspoken words and shattered hopes.