His name was Nathaniel

105

Adaliya hadn't reached out. Nathaniel hadn't either.

Days passed in silence, thick with unspoken words. The argument in the car, the tension in the clinic, the headlines—everything had left a crack between them, and neither seemed ready to bridge the gap.

For the first time in a long while, Adaliya felt truly alone in her apartment. Violet had tried to keep her company, but there was only so much she could do. The fight with Nathaniel had drained her, and now she sat at her desk, staring at the blank pages of her notebook. But she wasn't aimless.

If Nathaniel wanted a future with her, they needed to talk realistically.

So, she started writing.

A list of goals.
A plan.
A timeline.

What she wanted to accomplish before marriage. What she needed to feel ready for children. The years it would take. The sacrifices she wasn't willing to make. She wrote everything down, not to shut Nathaniel out, but to finally give their future structure. Because despite everything, she wanted to make things work.

Nathaniel, on the other hand, was doing something he had actively avoided his entire life.

He sat in his private doctor's office, gripping the armrests of his chair, heart pounding in his chest.

"I want a full examination," he said, voice flat, unreadable.

Dr. Langford, an older man who had treated him for years, nodded. "That's understandable, given your condition. Anything specific you want me to look out for?"

Nathaniel hesitated before inhaling sharply. His next words felt heavier than anything he had ever spoken.

"How long do I have?"

Silence stretched between them. Dr. Langford's expression didn't change, but something shifted in his posture. He folded his hands together, studying Nathaniel carefully.

"I'll run the tests," was all he said.

Nathaniel clenched his jaw, nodding stiffly. He didn't want to know. He never wanted to know. But after everything with Adaliya—after how much she still had ahead of her—he needed to. Because if he was running out of time, he couldn't afford to drag her into something that would only hurt her in the end.

After the examination, he left the clinic without looking back.

—

That evening, Nathaniel stood outside Adaliya's flat.

He hadn't called. He hadn't texted. He just came.

When Adaliya opened the door and saw him, she froze. There was something off about him. He wasn't angry. He wasn't defensive. He just looked tired.

"Can we talk?" he asked.

She stepped aside silently, letting him in.

They sat across from each other in the living room, an invisible wall still separating them.

"I wrote something down," Adaliya finally said, placing her notebook between them. "It's... everything I need to accomplish before I can even think about marriage or kids."

Nathaniel exhaled through his nose, picking up the notebook. He scanned the words carefully, his face unreadable. She had outlined everything—her education, her career aspirations, her financial goals, the personal milestones she wanted to achieve before settling down.

"How long do you think this will take?" he asked, voice low.

"A couple of years at least."

He nodded slowly. "And after that?"

"Then we talk again. Re-evaluate."

Silence.

Nathaniel closed the notebook and rested his hand on it. "I went to the doctor today," he admitted.

Adaliya tensed.

"For a full check-up. I asked him how long I have."

Her breath hitched. "And?"

Nathaniel's fingers curled slightly around the notebook, his knuckles turning white. Then, he lifted his gaze to hers, something unreadable flickering in his eyes.

"I'll tell you someday," he murmured.

Adaliya frowned. "Nathaniel—"

"Not now," he cut in gently. "Not yet."

She studied him carefully, frustration and worry fighting inside her. But she could tell he wasn't going to budge.

Nathaniel leaned back against the couch, exhaling slowly. "I'm not trying to pressure you, Adaliya. I just—" He cut himself off, running a hand down his face. "I want us to be on the same page."

"We will be," she assured him. "We just need to take our time."

Another pause. Then, finally, Nathaniel gave a small, almost tired smile.

"Alright," he said.

For now, that was enough.

A/N: sorry for the long wait, exam season isn't over and I hate to admit it y'all but I'm liking a boy and rn it isn't looking good🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢 whateva hope u enjoyed the chapters😘😘😘