When Love Break Ties

Chapter 34: The Breaking Point

Nathan stood by the window, watching the rain cascade down the glass. The city of Tokyo looked blurry through the droplets, as if the world outside was as uncertain as his own thoughts. His mind raced, replaying the events of the past few months over and over. He could hear Abby moving around behind him, her quiet footsteps padding across the floor of their small apartment. He knew the confrontation was coming—it had been building for days, maybe even weeks—but he still wasn't ready.

How could he be?

Their relationship, which once felt like the most solid part of his life, now felt fragile. Like glass on the edge of a table, one wrong move could send it shattering to the ground.

Nathan felt a lump rise in his throat as he thought about everything that had led to this moment. His family, his career, his future—all of it felt like it was balancing on a knife's edge. And at the center of it all was Abby.

The sound of her voice cut through his thoughts, soft but filled with tension.

"Nathan, we need to talk."

He turned to face her, seeing the strain in her eyes. Abby stood in the middle of the room, her arms crossed defensively over her chest. She had that look on her face—the one that told him she was about to say something difficult.

"Yeah," Nathan muttered, his voice barely audible. "I know."

Abby took a deep breath before she spoke again. "We can't keep pretending like everything is okay. You've been distant, and I feel like you're not even here anymore."

Nathan's heart sank. He knew she was right. Over the past few weeks, he had pulled away, feeling the weight of his family's disapproval and his own doubts about their relationship. He had tried to hide it, tried to focus on his work at the writing workshop and ignore the growing tension between them. But now, faced with Abby's words, he realized that hiding hadn't solved anything. It had only made things worse.

"I'm sorry," Nathan said, his voice cracking slightly. "I didn't mean to... it's just... there's been so much going on."

"With your family?" Abby interjected, her tone sharper now. "Is that what this is about? You've been pulling away from me because of them?"

Nathan sighed, running a hand through his hair. He could feel the frustration rising in him, but he didn't want to lash out. Not yet. "It's not just my family, Abby. It's everything. I've been feeling... lost. I don't know where I'm going anymore."

Abby's eyes flashed with anger. "So what? You're just going to shut me out? You think I haven't noticed how you've changed, Nathan? How you've become someone I barely recognize?"

Nathan opened his mouth to respond but closed it again. He didn't know how to explain what he was feeling. How could he tell Abby that he wasn't sure if he still wanted the same things they had once dreamed about together? How could he admit that his doubts were eating away at him?

Abby took a step closer, her voice lowering as she spoke. "I'm trying, Nathan. I've been trying so hard to understand what's going on with you, but you won't let me in. You're shutting me out, and it's killing me."

"I'm not shutting you out," Nathan said defensively, though even as he said the words, he knew they weren't true.

"Yes, you are!" Abby's voice rose, her frustration boiling over. "Ever since your family started questioning us, you've been different. It's like you're not sure about us anymore. Is that it? Are you not sure about us?"

Nathan's heart pounded in his chest. He didn't want to hurt Abby, but the truth was clawing its way to the surface, refusing to be ignored any longer. He couldn't lie to her, not anymore.