A Growing Distance

The days following Sophie and Eli's argument were marked by a deep, suffocating silence, like a fog that clung to every corner of their apartment. It wasn't just the absence of words, but the absence of connection. Sophie could feel it in the way Eli moved around the house, her steps quieter, more careful, as if walking on eggshells. It was a painful distance neither of them had explicitly acknowledged, yet it sat between them, growing larger by the day.

Sophie tried to busy herself with work and meetups with Mae, but everything felt off. Even conversations with Mae, who had always been her refuge, were strained. Sophie couldn't fully articulate what was happening at home. She felt as though she was stuck in a holding pattern, waiting for Eli to come back to her emotionally. But Eli seemed further away than ever, both in presence and spirit.

Eli had been working late for weeks now, her absence becoming the new normal. Sophie would wake up to an empty bed, her mind racing with a thousand unanswered questions. By the time Eli returned home late in the evening, their interactions were little more than brief exchanges of exhausted pleasantries. They hadn't had a meaningful conversation in what felt like an eternity.

One evening, Sophie decided to make dinner. She hadn't done that in a while not for both of them. There had been no reason to cook a shared meal when they weren't really sharing their lives anymore. But this time, Sophie wanted to try, to extend an olive branch. She prepared a simple pasta dish, something comforting. As she set the table, she checked the time. Eli was late, as usual.

Sophie found herself staring out of the window, watching the city lights flicker in the distance. She thought about the early days of their relationship, when things had felt so effortless between them. Back then, they had been inseparable, finishing each other's sentences, laughing at each other's jokes. Now, they barely shared more than a few words a day. Sophie felt the ache of nostalgia settle deep in her chest, reminding her of everything they had lost along the way.

The sound of keys jangling in the lock pulled Sophie from her thoughts. Eli walked through the door, her face drawn with exhaustion. She glanced at Sophie, offering a small, tired smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

"Hey," Eli said quietly, setting her bag down on the kitchen counter.

"Hey," Sophie replied, her voice just as quiet. "I made dinner."

Eli looked at the table, then back at Sophie, her expression softening with guilt. "I grabbed something at work. It was a long day. I didn't know you were cooking."

Sophie's heart sank. She had been holding onto this small act of making dinner as a way to reconnect, even if just for a moment. She swallowed the disappointment and forced a smile, trying to keep her tone light. "Oh. No worries. I just thought… maybe we could eat together tonight. It's been a while."

Eli hesitated, rubbing her temples, clearly overwhelmed. "I know, I'm sorry. I really am. I've just been so buried at work lately, I don't even know what day it is half the time."

Sophie's smile faltered. It was the same excuse, the same pattern of avoidance that had been going on for weeks now. Eli was always tired. Always busy. Always somewhere else.

"I get that you're busy," Sophie said carefully, choosing her words as delicately as possible. "But it feels like… we're not really here together anymore. I miss you, Eli."

Eli blinked, her shoulders tensing at Sophie's words. "I know. I miss you too. But work is insane right now. I don't know what else to do. Can we talk about this later? Maybe this weekend, when things calm down?"

Sophie nodded, though a hollow feeling had already settled in her chest. "Yeah, sure. This weekend."

Eli smiled at her, a tired, apologetic smile, before retreating into the bedroom. Sophie remained standing in the kitchen, staring at the empty table, her appetite gone. The pasta had grown cold, much like their relationship. She didn't even bother eating, too consumed by the growing distance between them.

---

The next morning, Sophie woke up to the sound of the shower running. Eli was already awake, getting ready for another long day at the office. Sophie lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, wondering how they had ended up here. When Eli emerged from the bathroom, towel wrapped around her, Sophie watched her silently, unsure of what to say. She wanted to talk, to break through the wall that had grown between them, but every time she tried, it felt like Eli was just out of reach.

"I'll see you later," Eli said, brushing a quick kiss against Sophie's forehead before grabbing her bag and heading for the door.

Sophie barely had time to respond before the front door clicked shut behind her.

---

Later that afternoon, Sophie met Mae for coffee. She needed to get out of the apartment, needed to talk to someone who might help her make sense of everything. But even with Mae, Sophie found herself holding back, unsure of how much to reveal.

"You look stressed," Mae said, sipping her latte, her eyes narrowing in concern. "Is everything okay with you and Eli?"

Sophie hesitated, staring down at her coffee cup. "We're… I don't know. Things have been really tense lately. She's always at work, and when she's home, it feels like we're strangers."

Mae nodded, her expression sympathetic. "That sounds hard. Have you talked to her about it?"

"I've tried," Sophie said, sighing. "But every time I bring it up, she says she's too tired, or too busy. I don't want to keep pushing, but I also don't want to just… let this go."

Mae leaned forward, her brow furrowed. "You deserve to be heard, Sophie. Eli needs to understand how much this is affecting you. If she loves you and I know she does she'll want to work on this with you."

Sophie bit her lip, feeling the weight of Mae's words settle on her shoulders. She knew Mae was right. She couldn't keep tiptoeing around the issue, hoping things would magically improve. Eli needed to hear how much this was hurting her. But the thought of having that conversation terrified Sophie. What if Eli wasn't willing to make the effort to fix things? What if the distance between them was too great to close?

"I know," Sophie said softly. "I just don't know how to start that conversation without it turning into another argument."

Mae reached across the table, giving Sophie's hand a reassuring squeeze. "You'll find the right words. And if Eli really wants to make this work, she'll listen. You deserve to feel connected in your relationship. Don't let her slip away without fighting for it."

---

That evening, Sophie sat on the couch, staring at the clock. Eli was supposed to be home hours ago, but once again, she was late. Sophie's nerves were fraying at the edges, the anxiety of their looming conversation making her stomach twist in knots.

When the door finally opened, Eli stepped inside, looking worn out and distracted. She gave Sophie a half-hearted smile, clearly unaware of the storm brewing inside her.

"Hey," Eli said, setting her keys down on the table. "Sorry I'm late. Things were a mess at work today."

Sophie stood up, her heart racing. "We need to talk, Eli. I can't keep doing this."

Eli's smile faded, replaced by a look of wary concern. "What do you mean?"

Sophie took a deep breath, steadying herself. "I feel like we're falling apart. And I don't know how to fix it."