Jalissa woke up the next morning feeling the heavy weight of last night's argument pressing against her chest. She lay in bed for a moment, staring at the faint sunlight creeping through the blinds. Ethan was already goneâagain.
She rolled over to check her phone, hoping for some sort of message, but there was nothing. No apology, no acknowledgment, not even a simple "good morning." Jalissa sighed and set the phone down, trying to suppress the growing knot in her stomach.
The silence of the apartment was deafening, and she found herself pacing the small living room, her mind replaying the events of the night before.
Distractions. That word echoed in her head like a slap in the face. Was that really how Ethan saw her now? A burden, an inconvenience, something he couldn't afford to deal with while he chased his ambitions?
Gina called around noon, her voice cutting through Jalissa's haze of doubt.
"Hey, girl. How are you holding up?"
Jalissa hesitated, her voice coming out quieter than she intended. "I don't know. It's like... I don't even recognize us anymore. He's so different now. Or maybe he's always been like this, and I just didn't see it."
"Well, you deserve better," Gina said bluntly. "And I'm not saying that because I hate Kate's smug little faceâthough I do. I'm saying it because you're Jalissa freakin' Madden, and you're out here sacrificing everything for a man who can't even prioritize you."
Jalissa chuckled softly despite herself. "You're so dramatic."
"Maybe," Gina admitted, "but I'm also right. Listen, do you want to go grab lunch? My treat. I think you could use some girl time."
"Sure," Jalissa said after a moment. "I could use the distraction."
By the time they reached the small café Gina had picked, Jalissa felt a little lighter. The place was cozy, with mismatched chairs and warm lighting, and the smell of fresh pastries wafted through the air.
They sat near the window, and Gina wasted no time diving into the conversation.
"So, have you thought about what you're going to do?"
"About what?" Jalissa asked, though she knew exactly what Gina was referring to.
"About Ethan," Gina said, leaning forward. "About this... situation you're in. You can't keep putting your life on hold, J."
"I know," Jalissa said softly. "But I love him, Gina. I've invested so much into this relationship. I can't just walk away."
"But is he investing in you?" Gina countered. "Or is this all one-sided?"
The question hung in the air, and Jalissa found herself staring into her coffee cup, unable to answer.
That evening, Ethan came home earlier than usual. Jalissa was sitting on the couch, her laptop open as she tried to work on a freelance project she'd taken on to make extra money.
"Hey," he said, his voice tentative as he set his bag down.
"Hey," she replied, not looking up.
Ethan sat down beside her, the cushion dipping slightly under his weight. "About last night... I'm sorry."
Jalissa finally turned to face him, her expression guarded. "Sorry for what, Ethan? For calling me a distraction? For making me feel like I'm not enough? Or just sorry that we argued?"
Ethan winced. "I didn't mean it like that. You're not a distraction, J. You're... you're everything to me. I'm just under so much pressure right now. The business is at such a critical stage, and I feel like if I mess this up, I'll lose everything."
Jalissa softened slightly but didn't let her guard down completely. "And where does that leave us? Because right now, it feels like I'm losing you, Ethan. I don't want to be in a relationship where I feel like an afterthought."
"You're not an afterthought," he insisted, reaching for her hand. "I'm doing all of this for us. For our future. You just have to trust me a little longer."
Jalissa searched his eyes, wanting to believe him, wanting to believe that the man she fell in love with was still in there somewhere. "Okay," she said finally. "But I need to see it, Ethan. I need to see that you're willing to fight for us, too."
"I will," he said, squeezing her hand. "I promise."
For a few days, things seemed to improve. Ethan made an effort to spend more time at home, and Jalissa felt a glimmer of hope that they could work things out.
But it didn't take long for old habits to resurface. Late nights, unanswered texts, and vague excuses became the norm once again.
One evening, as Jalissa was scrolling through her phone, she saw a post from Kate on Instagram. It was a photo of Ethan and Kate at a rooftop event, both of them dressed to the nines, smiling like they didn't have a care in the world.
Jalissa's stomach twisted as she read the caption: Networking with the best partner in the business. Big things coming soon!
She stared at the photo, her heart pounding in her chest. She hadn't even known Ethan was attending an event tonight.
When Ethan came home later that night, Jalissa was waiting for him.
"Nice event," she said, holding up her phone with the Instagram post displayed on the screen.
Ethan's expression faltered. "Jalissa, it was just networking. I didn't think it was a big deal."
"Of course you didn't," she said, her voice trembling with anger. "You never think it's a big deal when you exclude me, Ethan. Do you know how humiliating it is to find out what my boyfriend is doing through social media?"
"I wasn't trying to exclude you," he said defensively. "It was a last-minute thing, and I didn't want to bother youâ"
"Stop," Jalissa interrupted, her voice firm. "Just stop. Do you even hear yourself? You didn't want to bother me? Ethan, I've put my entire life on hold for you. I've worked two jobs, sacrificed my education, and supported you through everything. And this is how you treat me?"
Ethan ran a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated. "What do you want me to say, Jalissa? That I'm a terrible boyfriend? Fine, I'm a terrible boyfriend. But I'm trying, okay? I'm trying to make something of myself so that we can have a better life."
"And what about me?" Jalissa demanded, her voice breaking. "When do I get to make something of myself, Ethan? When do I get to feel like I matter?"
The room fell silent, the weight of her words hanging heavily between them.
Ethan looked away, his jaw tight. "I don't know," he admitted quietly.
Jalissa felt a tear slip down her cheek, but she quickly wiped it away. "Neither do I," she said softly.
That night, Jalissa lay awake in bed, staring at the ceiling. She couldn't shake the feeling that their relationship was slipping through her fingers, no matter how hard she tried to hold on.
For the first time, she allowed herself to wonder if it was worth it.