The gala is winding down. The music has softened, and the crowd is starting to thin. I’ve made my rounds, talked to the right people, and gathered insights that could help me understand what Alexander has been up to. Yet, one thing remains. A private moment with him, away from the crowd's eyes. A moment to set the tone for what comes next.
I spot him standing alone for a minute, gazing at a piece of art on the wall. It’s my chance. I take a deep breath and walk over, my heart pounding with every step. This isn’t just a confrontation—it’s the beginning of the conversation we never got to have.
“Alexander,” I say as I approach. He doesn’t seem surprised; perhaps he’s been expecting this.
“Isabelle.” He turns to face me, his expression carefully neutral, though there's a flicker of something else in his eyes—curiosity maybe, or something deeper.
“Admiring the art?” I ask, glancing at the painting, though art isn’t the real reason I’m here.
“For the first time tonight, yes.” His voice is smooth, but there's an undercurrent there.
I nod, taking a moment to gather my thoughts. “This evening…it’s quite the spectacle. You’ve really outdone yourself.”
“It serves its purpose,” he replies with a small smile. But then he leans in just a fraction, adding softly, “But you didn’t come just to admire my taste in art, did you?”
His piercing gaze locks onto mine, and the room seems to blur around us. This is the Alexander I know so well—the one who asks questions with answers already in mind.
“No,” I admit, holding his gaze steady. “I came to see how things have changed, and maybe to see if you’ve changed too.”
His eyes narrow slightly, a flicker of interest crossing his face. “And what have you discovered?”
“That even with all this”—I gesture around the room—“some things never really change.”
He smirks, and it’s that same crooked smile that first drew me in years ago. “True. But then, some things do.”
There’s an unspoken question between us, hanging in the air. We both sense it—the tension, the questions, the emotions we left unresolved.
“Why did you come back?” he finally asks, his voice lower and more sincere than before. “Is it just business?”
I hesitate, knowing this is where my intentions could get muddled. “I wanted closure. And maybe…maybe there’s more.”
He tilts his head, studying me. “How do you plan to find it?”
“By being here, by understanding you and this world again. Maybe it’s a bad idea; maybe it isn’t.” I shrug, trying to sound nonchalant, though my heart races.
“I see,” he says quietly, though his eyes are thoughtful.
For a brief moment, we just stand there, the noise of the gala a murmur below the surface of our conversation. The past feels close again, each word pulling it nearer. It’s as if time has folded over onto itself, bringing with it the weight of what was left unsaid.
“I don’t expect us to simply pick up where we left off,” I continue, breaking the silence. “That’s not why I’m here. But I need to understand what really happened between us.”
He nods slowly, acknowledging my words. “Maybe it’s time we both did.”
This feels like the start of something important. Even if I can’t fully pin down what that is just yet. But it’s enough for now. Enough to know we’re both here, talking, and open to what comes next.
“Enjoy the rest of your evening, Isabelle,” he says, with a small nod of respect, and perhaps, camaraderie.
“You too, Alexander.” I turn to leave, feeling a little lighter, like a small part of the load has been lifted.
As I walk away, I know this is only the beginning of unraveling the tangled mess that once was our life together. And as much as it scares me, it also excites me. Because beginnings are the promise of something new, and maybe this beginning will lead to the closure we both need.
Tonight, I got what I came for—a chance to look into Alexander’s eyes and see that he’s as human as I am. Now, I just need to see where this path takes us.
