The Final Gift

Chapter 3: The Fractured Reflection

The next few days passed in a haze of routine and unspoken words. Lisa and Jennie fell into a pattern that felt both comforting and suffocating. They still shared the same bed, the same meals, the same space, but there was an undeniable tension hanging in the air, a silent understanding that neither of them wanted to address.

Jennie seemed busier than ever, her work consuming most of her time. Lisa couldn't remember the last time they had spent a full evening together, just the two of them. Even when they were physically in the same room, it felt as though Jennie's mind was elsewhere, her thoughts drifting to places Lisa couldn't reach.

Lisa tried to convince herself that it was just work, that Jennie was simply overwhelmed with responsibilities, but the doubt gnawed at her. She noticed the way Jennie's phone would light up with messages more frequently, the way Jennie would smile at something on her screen before quickly tucking it away when Lisa entered the room. It was subtle, but it was there, and it left Lisa with a sinking feeling in her chest.

One evening, after another long day at work, Lisa found herself alone in the apartment. Jennie had sent a quick text saying she would be home late—something about an impromptu meeting with Klei. The message was brief, almost dismissive, and it left Lisa staring at her phone, her heart heavy with unease.

She tried to distract herself, turning on the TV and flipping through channels, but nothing held her interest. The apartment felt too quiet, too empty, the silence amplifying the thoughts she was trying so hard to push away. After what felt like hours, Lisa couldn't take it anymore. She grabbed her jacket and keys, needing to get out, to clear her head.

The night air was cool as Lisa walked through the city streets, her hands shoved deep into her pockets. The city was alive with the sounds of traffic, distant laughter, and the occasional blare of a horn, but it did little to drown out the turmoil in her mind. She wandered aimlessly, her thoughts spinning in circles, until she found herself in front of a small café—a place she and Jennie used to visit often, back when things were easier, lighter.

Without really thinking, Lisa stepped inside, the warm glow of the lights offering a brief respite from the cold outside. She ordered a coffee, taking a seat by the window where she could watch the world go by. The café was quiet, with only a few other patrons scattered around, each lost in their own world.

As Lisa sipped her coffee, her mind drifted back to the early days of her relationship with Jennie. She remembered the way Jennie used to look at her, with a light in her eyes that made Lisa feel like she was the only person in the world. They had spent countless hours in this very café, talking about everything and nothing, planning their future, dreaming of all the things they would do together.

But those days felt like a lifetime ago. Now, there was a distance between them that Lisa couldn't ignore, no matter how hard she tried. And the more she thought about it, the more she realized that the distance wasn't just about their busy schedules or Jennie's increasing time spent with Klei. It was something deeper, something that had been slowly growing between them for a long time.

Lisa's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of her phone buzzing on the table. She glanced down, her heart skipping a beat when she saw Jennie's name on the screen. She quickly picked up the phone, her hands trembling slightly as she opened the message.

"Hey, I'm really sorry, but I'm going to be even later than I thought. Klei and I are still working on this project, and it's taking longer than expected. Don't wait up for me, okay? I'll see you tomorrow."

Lisa stared at the message, the words blurring as tears welled up in her eyes. It wasn't just the fact that Jennie was working late again—it was the tone of the message, the way it felt so impersonal, so distant. There was no warmth, no affection, just a cold, factual update that left Lisa feeling more alone than ever.

She typed out a quick response—"Okay, be safe"—and set the phone back down, her appetite for the coffee gone. The café suddenly felt too small, too stifling, and Lisa needed to get out, to breathe. She grabbed her jacket and left the café, the doorbell jingling softly as she stepped back into the night.

Lisa walked without direction, her mind a swirl of emotions. She didn't know how long she walked or where she was going, but she eventually found herself standing in front of a familiar building—Klei's apartment. She hadn't meant to come here, hadn't even realized where her feet were taking her until she looked up and saw the building looming above her.

For a moment, Lisa considered turning back, walking away and pretending she hadn't ended up here by mistake. But something in her refused to leave. She needed to see, to know what was really happening between Jennie and Klei. It was a desperate, irrational urge, but Lisa couldn't shake it.

She stood there for what felt like an eternity, staring up at the building, her heart pounding in her chest. Just as she was about to turn and walk away, the door to the building opened, and Jennie stepped out, followed closely by Klei. They were laughing, their heads close together, and the sight of them like that—so comfortable, so at ease—made Lisa's breath catch in her throat.

Jennie hadn't noticed her yet, but Lisa couldn't move, couldn't tear her eyes away from the scene in front of her. The way Jennie smiled at Klei, the way Klei looked at Jennie—it was all too much. Lisa felt like she was watching something she shouldn't be seeing, something that wasn't meant for her eyes.

Just then, Jennie glanced up, her eyes meeting Lisa's across the distance. For a brief moment, time seemed to stand still. Jennie's smile faltered, her expression shifting from surprise to something that Lisa couldn't quite read. Klei noticed the change and followed Jennie's gaze, her own expression guarded as she took in the sight of Lisa standing there, alone in the night.

Lisa didn't wait to see what would happen next. She turned and walked away, her heart pounding in her chest, her mind a whirlwind of emotions. She didn't know what she had just witnessed, didn't know what it meant, but it confirmed what she had feared all along—that something had changed, and there was no going back.

As she made her way home, Lisa felt the first cracks forming in the foundation of her relationship with Jennie. The certainty that had once grounded her was slipping away, leaving her adrift in a sea of doubt and confusion. And the worst part was, she didn't know if there was anything she could do to fix it.