Page 44 of Phoenix Rising

What was she even talking about?

“Lucinda—"

“I can’t.”

Becky's anger bubbled to the surface. "I'm so sick of these mixed signals. I just want you to be honest with me. Just tell me what you need, and I can make it happen!"

"I need space!' Lucinda looked down, shocked by her reaction. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I’ve been dealing with a lot of internal stuff?—”

“Internal stuff?” Becky interrupted, her attitude flaring. “You think that’s an excuse for just disappearing? You left me hanging, not knowing what I did wrong. It’s like I’m nothing to you. All I am is a quick fuck." Becky felt tears threaten the backs of her eyes.

Lucinda’s eyes were wide with hurt. “That’s not fair. I said from the beginning that I wanted to take things slow."

Becky’s feelings were now a full-blown storm tearing at her heart. “And I agreed. But I didn't agree with being left in the dark every time you need space. I need you to talk to me."

Lucinda’s face flushed with frustration. “Well,maybe that's not what I signed up for. Maybe I’m not ready for a relationship that requires this much emotional investment."

Becky was surprised by Lucinda's chilly attitude. She wasn't the sweet, gentle woman she had gotten to know but the icy woman who had stormed into her office and accused her of not being able to handle her job.

Becky leaned forward, her voice icy. “I don’t want to be with someone who runs away when things get tough. If you’re not ready for a real relationship, then just admit it.”

Lucinda locked eyes with her, her voice even. "I'm not ready. I don't think I ever will be. I'm…I'm broken."

“Fine.” Becky nodded, her fingers tapping against the metal table. "But I want you to know I was willing to help you. I would have helped you glue the pieces back together, if you had just asked."

Lucinda’s shoulders slumped. “I’m sorry."

Becky stood up, her face burning from anger and embarrassment. “I need someone who can face challenges with me, not someone who runs away."

With that, Becky turned and walked away fromthe café, her steps heavy with the weight of the conversation. The anger that had fueled her departure began to dissolve into profound sadness. She had hoped for resolution, for understanding, but instead, she was left with a sense of emptiness and loss.

The café, once a place of joy and connection, now felt like a symbol of everything that had gone wrong. Becky felt the tears she had been holding back spill as she got into her car. She had hoped to build something meaningful with Lucinda, but now it seemed like all she had left was a broken heart and unanswered questions.

As she walked to her car, the streets felt colder and the city lights more distant. The future seemed uncertain, and the promise of what might have been with Lucinda felt like a cruel joke. Becky knew that she would have to find a way to move on, but for now, all she could do was let the tears fall and try to make sense of the emotional whirlwind that had left her feeling so empty.

Becky stared at her phone for a long moment, her heart aching as she replayed the painful conversation she’d just had with Lucinda. The sky outside had darkened, and the city lights flickered as if mocking her. She needed to talk to someone,and Josephine was the first person who came to mind. With a shaky hand, she dialed Josephine’s number and waited as it rang.

“Josephine Mars,” Josephine answered in her professional voice..

“It’s Becky,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

There was a brief pause on the other end before Josephine’s tone softened. “Hey. Are you okay?”

Becky swallowed hard, feeling a lump in her throat. “Not really. I’m a mess. Lucinda and I broke things off.”

Josephine’s voice immediately grew concerned. “Oh no. What happened? Tell me everything."

Becky took a deep breath, her fingers trembling as she clutched the phone. “We met up at a coffee shop. I thought we were going to talk things through, you know? So we could fix whatever was going on.”

Josephine’s silence urged her to continue.

“So, we started talking,” Becky said, her voice quivering. “I told her how confused I was about what happened. I tried to understand why she ran off like that. She said it wasn’t just about my dad showing up; it was about everything. She said she’sdealing with a lot of internal stuff, like fears and insecurities.”

Josephine’s voice was gentle. “And what did you say?”

“I told her I wanted to understand,” Becky said, her voice tinged with frustration. “I wanted to help her, but she...she kept saying she wasn’t ready. That she was broken and didn’t want to drag me into her mess.”

Josephine sighed heavily. “Becky, I know this is hard, but it sounds like you did everything you could. You were patient, understanding, and willing to support her. Sometimes people have their own battles that they feel they need to get through by themselves.”

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