His name was Nathaniel

65

Adaliya sat on her couch, staring blankly at the TV as some random show played in the background. Her phone buzzed on the table beside her, lighting up with another message from Nathaniel. She didn't bother to look. For the past days, she had been ignoring his texts, frustrated by his distant behavior and refusal to talk about what was really going on. She was tired of trying to break through the wall he'd built around himself.

She didn't want to admit it, but it hurt. Nathaniel was important to her—more important than she had expected him to become. And yet, it felt like he was pushing her away, shutting her out at a time when she knew he needed someone. But she wasn't going to chase him. If he didn't want to be open with her, then she wasn't going to keep trying to break down his defenses.

The sound of a knock at the door startled her. Frowning, she stood up, wondering who it could be. She wasn't expecting anyone.

When she opened the door, her breath caught in her throat. Nathaniel stood there, looking more worn out than she had ever seen him. His usual composed demeanor was cracked, and beneath it, she could sense a storm brewing.

"Nathaniel," she said, her voice edged with surprise. "What are you doing here?"

He ran a hand through his hair, his gaze intense but filled with frustration. "You've been ignoring me."

Adaliya crossed her arms, the sting of her own frustration bubbling up again. "Yeah, because you've been acting like everything's fine when it's not. You won't talk to me, and then you expect me to just sit around and wait?"

Nathaniel stepped into the apartment, his expression hardening as he shut the door behind him. "I don't get why you're so upset. I've been busy. I've had a lot on my mind. It's not a big deal."

Adaliya let out a sharp laugh, shaking her head in disbelief. "That's exactly the problem, Nathaniel. You act like nothing is a big deal when I know something's bothering you. You won't talk to me, and then you wonder why I'm upset?"

Nathaniel frowned, clearly confused. "I don't see why it should bother you so much. I'm not the kind of person who talks about... things like this. It's just how I am."

"That's exactly why it bothers me," Adaliya shot back, her voice rising. "You don't talk to me! You shut me out. I know something is wrong, but you keep brushing me off like it's nothing. How am I supposed to feel? You expect me to just stand by and pretend everything's okay?"

Nathaniel opened his mouth to respond, but nothing came out. He stood there, torn between frustration and something deeper, something he didn't know how to express. The silence stretched between them, heavy and tense, until finally, Adaliya spoke again, her voice quieter now.

"I care about you, Nathaniel. But I can't be in this with you if you won't be honest with me. I don't need you to have everything figured out, but I need you to let me in. Otherwise... I don't know if this is going to work."

Her words hit him harder than he expected. Nathaniel took a step back, his heart pounding in his chest. He had always kept his emotions locked away, hidden behind a carefully constructed mask. That's how he had survived his life so far—by keeping everything bottled up, never letting anyone see the cracks. But now, standing in front of Adaliya, with her eyes searching his for answers he couldn't find the words for, he felt the dam beginning to break.

"I... don't know how to do this," Nathaniel admitted, his voice tight. "I've never been good at... talking about my feelings."

Adaliya watched him, her anger melting into something softer. "You don't have to be perfect, Nathaniel. I'm not asking for that. I'm just asking for honesty."

Nathaniel turned away, running a hand over his face. "I don't know where to start. There's just... so much."

"Then start with whatever's weighing you down the most," Adaliya said gently, taking a step toward him. "I'm here. Just talk to me."

Nathaniel was silent for a long moment, his thoughts racing. He hadn't planned on breaking down tonight, hadn't planned on letting anyone in. But now, standing here, he realized he couldn't keep holding it all in. The pressure of his father's expectations, the fear of becoming like him, the uncertainty of his own future—it was all too much.

"I'm scared," he finally whispered, his voice trembling.

Adaliya blinked, surprised by his confession. "Scared? Of what?"

Nathaniel clenched his fists, his chest tightening as the words he had been holding back for so long finally spilled out. "Of everything. Of my father, of the business, of the future. I don't know if I can handle it. I don't know if I'll live long enough to even have a future."

He turned his face away, his voice breaking as the weight of his fears came crashing down on him. "What if I don't make it? What if all of this is pointless? I don't even know if I'll live long enough to... to have a family, to be the person I want to be. And it terrifies me."

Tears filled his eyes, and before he could stop them, they began to spill over, blurring his vision. He quickly wiped at them, embarrassed by his vulnerability, turning his face further away so Adaliya wouldn't see. "I'm sorry," he muttered, his voice choked. "I didn't mean to..."

But before he could finish, he felt Adaliya's arms wrap around him. She pulled him close, resting her head against his chest, her embrace warm and comforting. For a moment, Nathaniel stood frozen, unsure of how to respond. But then, slowly, he let himself lean into her, his arms wrapping around her as if she were the only thing holding him together.

"I'm sorry," he whispered again, his voice trembling.

"Shh," Adaliya murmured, her voice soft. "You don't have to be sorry. It's okay, Nathaniel. I'm here."

Nathaniel held her tighter, his body shaking as the tears continued to fall. He hadn't cried in years, hadn't allowed himself to. But now, with Adaliya's arms around him, it was as if all the walls he had built had crumbled, leaving him raw and exposed.

They stood there in silence, the only sound in the room the soft rhythm of their breathing. Adaliya didn't say anything else—she didn't need to. She just held him, her presence steady and unwavering, until Nathaniel's sobs quieted and his breathing evened out.

When he finally pulled back, his face was flushed with embarrassment, his eyes red from crying. He avoided her gaze, ashamed of his meltdown, but Adaliya gently cupped his face, forcing him to look at her.

"It's okay," she whispered, her voice filled with understanding. "You don't have to go through this alone, Nathaniel. I'm here. We'll figure this out together."

Nathaniel's throat tightened again, but this time, it wasn't fear that filled his chest—it was something else. Something lighter. Something he hadn't felt in a long time.

For the first time in years, Nathaniel allowed himself to believe that maybe, just maybe, he didn't have to carry this burden on his own.