The evening stars

Do you love me?

Alex was sitting on the couch in the living room, his gaze was heavy and concentrated, as if he was trying to find answers to questions that did not give me peace. He looked grim and tense, his thoughts revolving around the fact that Rachel had started a game where the stakes were the most important thing – their daughter. It angered him to the core.

He had been living in Sofia's apartment for several days. Her presence nearby softened his condition a little, helping to distract him from the endless stream of thoughts. He sighed heavily and, as if seeking comfort, rested his head on her lap. Sophie, sitting beside him, gently ran her hand through his hair, stroking it in an attempt to soothe him.

— Samantha isn't answering my calls and texts, — Alex said quietly, as if he were afraid to admit out loud how much it bothers him.

Sophie continued to stroke his head, but her gaze also became anxious.

— Do you think Rachel said something bad about you? — she asked, slightly frowning.

Alex sighed, his shoulders slumped, he looked exhausted.

— I don't know... — his voice sounded muffled, tired. — I'm just tired. All of this is so exhausting.

— What do you plan to do with this? — she asked quietly, but now her voice sounded more cautious.

Alex closed his eyes and took a breath, as if gathering his thoughts.

— I need to talk to Sam in person so she knows the truth. So that she knows that I love her. I think I'm going to New York, — his voice became resolute, although there was still a sense of inner struggle in it.

Sophie's hand suddenly stopped, and Alex felt her body tense up.

— Do you think it's a good idea? "Do you think Rachel will let you talk to her?" she asked cautiously, her voice full of doubt.

Alex raised his head, his gaze becoming firm despite his fatigue.

— Of course he will, — he said confidently, trying to convince both himself and her of it. — We are not divorced yet, at least.

Sophie paused for a moment, contemplating his words, then gently nodded, although her face remained troubled.

— Alright, if you've already made up your mind, then go ahead, — she sighed, not wanting to stop him, even though the idea made her uneasy.

Alex once again rested his head on her lap, closing his eyes, feeling the weight of the decision he had made pressing down on him.

Sophie looked at the man who was next to her and felt the weight of his emotions, which day by day pressed down on her more and more. She understood that Alex could not distance himself from his past, that everything still connected him to his former life — to Rachel and, most importantly, to Samantha. And although she tried to support him, the feeling that his past was becoming a barrier to their future intensified her inner doubts.

With each new situation related to his former family, she increasingly questioned whether she had the strength to be with someone who, even in moments of weakness, was immersed in a world where she did not exist. Yes, Alex said that he loves her, but his thoughts, his heart – it was still there, in that life from which he seemed unable to fully break free.

"What if this never changes?" Sophie thought, looking at him, lost in his own thoughts. She felt his pain, his worry for their daughter, but it made her wonder: do they have a chance at a happy life if Alex keeps reaching for the past?

Sophie couldn't shake the feeling that she was merely a temporary refuge, that at any moment Alex could return to Rachel, to the life he was trying to leave behind. Every time he spoke about Samantha, when his voice trembled at the mention of his daughter's name, her heart would tighten. She knew she had no right to be jealous of the child, but all of this made her feel like an outsider in his world.

She sighed, looked out the window, hoping to find answers to her questions there. Alex loved her, she had no doubt about that. But is one love enough to build a new life on the ruins of the old? Can she accept that a part of his soul will always belong to another person? These questions pulsed in her mind, creating a sense of anxiety and uncertainty.

Sophie understood that her own doubts were growing stronger with each passing day. She was afraid that at some point Alex might realize that he wasn't ready to let go of his past completely, and that this would be fatal for their relationship.

Sophie's thoughts were darting around like they were trapped. Alex was nearby, and his presence was supposed to bring comfort, but instead, she felt an increasing tension. Although he told her that he loved her, that they would be happy, every time the conversation turned to his past life, she felt a wall growing between them.

She turned to him, her eyes filled with worry and doubt. Alex noticed her movement and met her gaze. He always knew how to read her mood, and now it troubled him.

— Do you love me? — Sophie asked, her voice sounding unexpectedly to herself.

Alex frowned. He didn't expect such a question, especially after everything they had been through together.