When Love Break Ties

Chapter 28: Nathan's Awakening

Nathan stared blankly at the screen of his laptop, the blinking cursor mocking his inability to write anything meaningful. For the past few days, he had been trying to finish a chapter of his novel, but the words wouldn't come. His mind was too cluttered, his heart too heavy. Every time he tried to focus, his thoughts drifted back to Abby—and the growing realization that his relationship with her had transformed him in ways he hadn't anticipated.

He sighed, closing the laptop with a frustrated thud. The silence in the apartment felt suffocating, a reminder of how distant he and Abby had become since their last explosive fight about his family. Nathan rubbed his temples, trying to push the thought away, but it lingered like an unwelcome guest.

Lately, everything felt different—both within their relationship and within himself. It wasn't just the fights, the tension, or the constant pressure of navigating Abby's family issues. It was something deeper, something unsettling. Nathan had always prided himself on being grounded, on holding tightly to his values and his sense of self. But as the months passed, he could feel those things slipping away, piece by piece, as if Abby's world had swallowed him whole.

He had started this relationship believing that love would make him stronger, that being with Abby would elevate him. And in some ways, it had. She was fierce, passionate, independent—qualities that had drawn him to her from the beginning. But somewhere along the line, something shifted. He had become more cynical, more detached from the people who had once meant everything to him, especially his family.

The realization hit him like a cold wave.

Nathan stood up, pacing around the apartment as the weight of that thought settled in. He had pushed his parents away, distanced himself from the friends who had supported him throughout his life. All in the name of love, all because he believed that Abby's way of seeing the world was somehow more enlightened, more "realistic."

But now, as he stood in the middle of their apartment, surrounded by the remnants of their once vibrant love, he couldn't help but wonder if he had lost himself in the process.

"Who am I anymore?" Nathan muttered to himself, running a hand through his hair. The man staring back at him in the mirror wasn't the same one who had walked into this relationship full of hope and optimism. His reflection seemed tired, worn out, as if the fire inside him had dimmed over time.

He had always been close to his family, even when their relationships had been strained. They had shaped who he was, instilled in him the values he held dear—respect, loyalty, love. But now, when he thought of them, it wasn't with warmth or fondness. It was with guilt and resentment, as if loving them was a betrayal to Abby.

And that scared him.

Nathan collapsed onto the couch, burying his face in his hands. "What am I doing?" he whispered, his voice tinged with desperation. How had he gotten so lost? How had he allowed someone else's pain and bitterness to reshape his own beliefs, his own identity?

He knew that relationships were supposed to challenge you, to help you grow. But this felt different. This felt like he had been slowly losing pieces of himself, bit by bit, until he could no longer recognize the man he used to be. And the worst part was, he wasn't sure if Abby even realized the extent of her influence on him.

Nathan's phone buzzed on the coffee table, and he glanced at it, seeing his mother's name flash across the screen. For a moment, he considered ignoring it—just like he had so many times before. But something inside him stirred, a voice telling him to pick up, to reconnect with the people who had always been there for him.

With a deep breath, Nathan answered. "Mom?"

"Nathan! Oh, it's so good to hear your voice," his mother's voice was warm, though tinged with concern. "It's been a while. How are you?"