The Neighbor

Chapter 72

The ticking of the clock fills the silence, a steady rhythm that only seems to make your nerves worse. Your knee bounces uncontrollably, your fingers absentmindedly twisting your wedding band. Across from you, Scarlett sits quietly, her green eyes watching you with patient concern. She doesn't rush you, doesn't push—just waits, giving you the space to speak.

But you can't bring yourself to start. Same as last week.

The silence stretches on until, out of nowhere, you blurt, "Isabella rolled over for the first time yesterday."

Scarlett's expression softens, a small, genuine smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "She did?" she asks gently, her voice warm. "That's wonderful. She's growing so fast."

You nod, a flicker of pride crossing your face as you continue. "Yeah... she's almost three months now. She's been trying for days, but yesterday, she finally did it. Wanda and I were so proud—she even giggled when she realized she did it on her own."

Scarlett's smile deepens, and for a moment, the warmth in her gaze wraps around you, the tension in the room easing slightly. But then, with a gentle but knowing look, she leans forward just a little.

"That's amazing," she says softly, her voice still kind but more focused now. "But... I asked how you were doing."

You blink, the shift in the conversation catching you off guard. The pride you felt a moment ago about Isabella fades into the background as you're reminded of why you're really here—why Scarlett's gaze, as soft as it is, feels so heavy.

She tries again, her voice still gentle but persistent. "How are you doing?"

You bite your lip, your knee bouncing even faster now. You feel the weight of her question settle over you, and for a second, you wonder if it would be easier to talk about anything else—anything but yourself. But the look in Scarlett's eyes tells you that she won't let you dodge it again.

You take a deep breath, your fingers still twisting the wedding band, and you try to form the words that feel so hard to say.

You shrug, your voice hesitant as the words leave your mouth. "I...I don't know. Not any better."

Scarlett tilts her head slightly, her expression soft but focused. Her finger gently rubs her lower lip as her eyes search yours, studying you with that familiar quiet intensity. She doesn't say anything right away, just lets the silence sit between you, giving you the space to fill it.

The ticking of the clock grows louder in your ears, and you feel her gaze pushing you to say more, but it's hard. It's like the words are stuck, trapped somewhere between the fear of admitting just how much you're still struggling and the exhaustion of carrying it all for so long.

After a moment, Scarlett leans forward just a bit, her voice calm but firm, gently coaxing you to dig deeper. "What does 'not any better' look like for you? What are you feeling?"

You drop your gaze, staring down at your hands in your lap, watching your fingers twist the ring around and around. "Everything's...just heavy," you admit, your voice quiet, the confession raw. "I wake up, and it's like...the weight is already there, waiting for me. Some days I don't even want to get out of bed."

Scarlett nods slowly, her eyes never leaving you. "And how does that affect the people around you—Wanda, the boys, Isabella?"

Your heart clenches at the mention of them. "Wanda's...trying," you say softly. "She's doing everything she can, but I can tell she's worried. I don't want to keep burdening her. The boys, they're picking up on it too, I think. And Isabella...she's just a baby, but sometimes I feel like I'm failing her."