Fragments Of Us [Completed]

What Happened To Us?

Vel’s POV

Vel sat at the kitchen table, the early morning light spilling through the window, illuminating the scattered papers and the half-finished cup of coffee in front of him. His gaze drifted to the clock on the wall, the minutes ticking away like a relentless reminder of the time he’d lost—time that used to be filled with warmth and laughter.

Nut’s absence weighed heavily in the air. He had been coming home late more often, leaving Vel to wonder where he was and what had changed between them. It wasn't just the late nights; it was the little things that used to bring them together—the spontaneous dinners, the shared moments on the couch, and the gentle touches that spoke volumes. Now, those moments felt like distant memories, buried under the confusion of unanswered questions.

“What’s happening to us?” Vel whispered, more to himself than anyone else. He ran a hand through his hair, frustration building within him. He had tried to talk to Nut, to reach out, but every time he approached the subject, Nut seemed distant, almost like he was a stranger in his own home.

Vel knew Nut wasn’t a bad person. He could see the flicker of affection in Nut’s eyes when they crossed paths, but it was overshadowed by something else—an unspoken tension that hung in the air. Nut was still the man Vel had fallen in love with, but something had shifted, and Vel was desperate to understand what it was.

Taking a deep breath, he picked up his phone and scrolled through their messages, searching for clues in the digital exchanges. Most of their conversations revolved around mundane topics—work, household chores, plans that never seemed to materialize. There were no heart emojis, no late-night texts filled with affection. Just a void that echoed with silence.

He glanced at the clock again, feeling the weight of his responsibilities as the HR manager pull him away from his thoughts. The demands of his job were ever-present, and while he loved his work, it felt as if he was juggling everything alone. With Nut leaving before he could even say goodbye in the mornings, Vel felt increasingly isolated.

“Maybe it’s just a phase,” he mused, though the thought offered little comfort. He wanted to believe that things would get better, that they could reconnect if they tried hard enough. But deep down, a nagging fear crept in—what if this was the beginning of the end?

Deciding to shift his focus, Vel forced himself to get up and prepare for the day. He moved through the motions of breakfast and getting ready, but his mind kept drifting back to Nut. Each moment felt like a reminder of what they once had and what was slipping away.

As he stepped out of their apartment, Vel felt a pang of longing in his chest. He wanted to reach out, to bridge the growing gap between them, but the uncertainty loomed like a shadow. With a sigh, he locked the door behind him, hoping that today would bring some clarity, some sign of the love they once shared.

Nut’s pov

Nut sat in his studio, surrounded by the soft hum of artificial lights and the faint scent of paint mixed with the sharp tang of chemicals. The walls were adorned with his latest work—stunning portraits of models that seemed to leap from the frames with life and vibrancy. But today, as he adjusted the settings on his camera, his mind was miles away from the creative energy of his environment.

He glanced at a photo of Vel on his desk, taken during one of their spontaneous outings, where Vel had laughed, carefree and radiant. Nut's heart ached at the sight. "What happened to us?" he thought, running a hand through his hair in frustration. The spark that once ignited their relationship felt extinguished, replaced by an uncomfortable silence that neither of them seemed willing to address.

"It’s not that I don’t love him," Nut mused, gripping the camera tightly. "But it’s different now. I just... I don’t know how to be the husband he deserves." The mental dialogue played on repeat, an internal struggle that left him feeling more isolated with each passing day.

He shifted his focus back to the task at hand, but the images of models swirling around him only deepened his sense of distraction. He could capture the beauty of others with ease, yet he felt powerless to capture the beauty of his own life—the one that had begun to crumble beneath the weight of unspoken words and unacknowledged feelings.

"Maybe I should just talk to him," he thought, but the idea was quickly quashed by a wave of anxiety. "What would I even say?" Nut bit his lip, feeling the familiar tightening in his chest. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to reach out; it was just that he didn’t know how to voice the truth he had been avoiding. The truth that he felt more like a roommate than a husband, more like a friend than a partner.

He leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling as if the answers might materialize in the paint above him. "He deserves someone who can give him everything he needs—someone who feels the same way he does." Nut could feel the guilt creeping in, a heavy cloak he couldn’t shake off. He missed the days when their love felt effortless, when laughter filled their home and affection flowed freely between them.

"Maybe it’s just a rough patch," he rationalized, but the thought felt hollow. "How long can we call this a rough patch before it becomes a permanent state?" The question lingered, hanging in the air like a dark cloud, overshadowing his creativity.

With a sigh, he picked up his camera and pointed it toward the studio window, capturing the golden sunlight streaming through. "At least I can create beauty here," he thought bitterly, focusing on the colors and the play of light. It was easier to lose himself in his work than to confront the growing chasm between him and Vel.

Nut snapped a few shots, but the images blurred in his mind with the vision of Vel’s hurt expression when they passed each other like strangers in their own home. "How did we get here?" The question echoed, unanswered and heavy, like a weight pressing down on his chest.

As he reviewed the photos he had taken, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was merely a spectator in his own life, watching it unfold without any real engagement. "Maybe I’m just scared," he admitted to himself, acknowledging the fear that had kept him from addressing the elephant in the room. "Scared of losing him, scared of what’s next."

Nut set the camera down, staring at the wall of photographs that reflected a life filled with laughter, love, and memories. He felt a deep longing to reclaim that connection with Vel, but every day that passed without a conversation felt like another brick in the wall between them.

"I can’t keep ignoring this," he thought, but as the familiar dread settled in, he pushed the thought away, choosing to focus on his work instead. After all, it was easier to escape into his art than to face the reality of their faltering marriage.

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Author's Note:

Hey guys! So, this is the second chapter, and I wanted to get it out since I already wrote it. I just wanted to update you all about my situation—my exams are almost over! My last one is on the 5th of this month, so after that, I'll be back to posting regularly. You can expect updates almost every day because I can write that fast when I have the time!

I think the chapters in this book might be a bit shorter than usual. I'm not entirely sure why—maybe we'll see how things develop. Also, yes, I made Vel sad again, and I’m really sorry about that. I’m working on doing better, and I think once I have more time, the flow will improve too.

The next chapter might take a little longer, but I promise it’ll be worth it. Please remember to vote and leave comments on this chapter! Your support means so much and really helps this story grow. I hope you’ll show this book the same love you gave the last one—I’m aiming to make it even better!

See you in the next chapter! Bye!