HEART BEAT

CHAPTER TWENTY

**Chapter 20**

The days that followed were some of the hardest Kira had ever experienced. The once unbreakable bond she shared with Alex seemed to have frayed, leaving her feeling isolated and unsure of what the future held. Every interaction between them was laced with tension, and the easy, natural rhythm of their relationship had been replaced by uncertainty and hesitation.

Kira tried to stay strong, but the emotional toll was beginning to wear on her. She found herself replaying their conversations over and over in her mind, analyzing every word, every glance, searching for clues that might explain what had gone wrong. The more she thought about it, the more confused and hurt she became.

Alex, too, seemed to be struggling. He was quieter than usual, his once warm and open demeanor replaced by a guardedness that Kira didn't recognize. He still held her at night, still kissed her good morning, but there was a distance in his eyes that hadn't been there before. It was as if he was holding a part of himself back, and Kira couldn't figure out how to reach him.

One evening, after another day of strained silences and awkward conversations, Kira decided she couldn't take it anymore. She needed to talk to someone, to get an outside perspective on what was happening between them. She thought of calling her best friend, Leah, but the thought of explaining everything to her, of admitting how fragile her relationship with Alex had become, was too painful to bear.

Instead, Kira found herself dialing the number of someone she hadn't spoken to in a long time-her mother. As the phone rang, Kira wondered if this was a mistake, if reaching out to her mother, with whom she had always had a complicated relationship, would only make things worse. But before she could change her mind, her mother's voice came through the line.

"Kira, sweetheart! It's so good to hear from you. How are you?"

Kira took a deep breath, trying to keep her voice steady. "Hi, Mom. I'm... I'm okay. I just needed someone to talk to."

There was a pause on the other end of the line, and Kira could almost hear the concern in her mother's voice. "What's wrong, honey? Is everything okay with you and Alex?"

Kira's resolve crumbled at her mother's gentle tone, and before she knew it, she was pouring out everything-her fears, her doubts, the distance that had grown between her and Alex. As she spoke, the tears she had been holding back finally fell, and she found herself crying into the phone, the weight of her emotions too much to bear.

Her mother listened patiently, offering soothing words and understanding. "Kira, relationships are hard work, and it's normal to go through rough patches, especially when you're talking about big life changes like starting a family. But what matters is that you're both willing to work through it together."

"But what if he isn't?" Kira asked, her voice trembling. "What if he decides this is all too much, and he walks away?"

"Kira, you can't control what Alex does, but you can control how you respond," her mother said gently. "Have you tried telling him how you're feeling? Really telling him, without holding anything back?"

Kira sniffled, wiping away her tears. "I've tried, but he's so closed off. I don't know how to get through to him."

"Sometimes, men have a hard time expressing their emotions, especially when they're scared or unsure," her mother explained. "But that doesn't mean he doesn't care about you. It just means he's struggling to find the right words. Maybe he needs you to be patient with him, to give him the time and space to work through his feelings."

Kira nodded, even though her mother couldn't see her. "I just want things to go back to the way they were."

"I know, sweetheart. And they will, but it might take time. Just remember that you're strong, and you've been through difficult times before. You'll get through this, too."