Page 99 of Where We Fall

It’s crazy how quickly a relationship can change. How I would do anything to make her happy, protect her at all costs, and now I’m expected to be indifferent to her.

***

I reach into my desk drawer and pull out my bottle of ibuprofen. My head is killing me. One look at the lights on my screen, and the throbbing gets persistently worse.

It’s my own damn fault. I’m the one who finished the entire bottle of wine last night.

It was only meant to be a glass or two to calm me down. But after two glasses, I still felt miserable. So, I did the only thing I could think of: I drank more.

This morning is even worse. I can’t explain the pain I felt when I woke up and realized it wasn’t all just a bad dream.

Being with her was like learning to breathe deeply for the first time. Now, each breath feels like it takes effort, and even then, it still doesn't feel like enough.

If this is the shit my brother felt when his ex-wife abandoned him and my niece, then I’m the shittiest brother ever. I should have been by his side every night to help him through it.

It’s only ten in the morning, but I can’t seem to sit still. I don’t know if Lexi has told them yet. I don’t know anything because it’s not for me to know anymore.

There’s a light knock on my open door.

“Hey.”

I look up and see my three siblings walking in, closing the door behind them.

“We heard the news,” Mia says softly. “How are you holding up?”

“I’ve been better. Where is Lexi?”

“She’s packing up her office,” Luke answers. “We told her she could leave immediately if she felt more comfortable getting to her mom sooner. Her friend called her last night and said she visited, and her mom wasn’t doing so well. Was in pain and refused to walk.”

Fuck. Lexi must be worrying herself sick right now. This is exactly what the doctors were warning her about. Her mom needs to get up and move to do her therapy, or she won’t recover.

I want to walk out of my office and wrap my arms around her. I want to kiss her. I want to be herpersonin this.

“Are you going to go with her to help her settle in?” Gabe asks.

“What? Why would I do that?” I bark out quickly.

“Becaaaause you’re her boyfriend. You love her,” he responds.

She didn’t tell them the part where we broke up? I guess that makes sense. She’s a professional. She came in to give her notice, not air out our personal life to my family.

“I’m not her boyfriend anymore. We broke up.”

“What?” Luke asks.

“You broke up with her?” Gabe seconds Luke’s sound of shock. “I thought you loved her.”

“I do.” I can’t believe this is their reaction.

Not how are you? Not asking what happened. JustassumingI was the one to end it. It’s the typical assumption of my life.

Marcus, the one who makes poor decisions. The young and immature one. Will I ever outgrow those labels put on me from childhood?

“Seriously, man. I knew you rushed into this too soon. The moment things get tough, you end it. That’s not how relationships work, that’s not how love works,” Luke says.

It’s my final straw. I’m hurting right now, more than I ever have, and their words just add to it.

“That’s enough!” I shout as I stand from my chair. “I’ve had it with you guys assuming the worst of me. For your information, Lexi broke up with me. You would know that if you didn’t assume that everything bad in my life is my damn fault. When will you guys wake up and realize I’m not a child anymore? I’m so sick of this treatment. It’s all the time. I can’t even be treated equally in this business. It’s always you two consulting each other and leaving me out. Like the other week, that little marketing sales idea you claim was yours. I brought that shit up a year ago, and you slammed it down. Now, all of a sudden, it’s your idea. And the worst part is, you didn’t even pitch it to me to get my opinion. You two decided on your own. Then, it was the fucking incident with William. Instead of telling him he’s way off base about me, you make me jump through hoops to prove I’m not a total fuckup.”

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