Page 33 of Clashing with the Ice Queen

They sipped their wine, both lost in thoughts of love and laughs under the twinkling lights of the cozy apartment. She couldn’t help but think that at least in Vivienne’s story, both women were conflicted and had their demons. In Cassandra’sstory, there was only one party pushing the other away: Cassandra.

Vivienne leaned forward, her eyes filled with curiosity. “Cassandra, are you really okay with everything?” she asked softly. “What is it in your relationship that is causing you problems?”

Cassandra shook her head slowly. “It’s just. Well, I can’t commit to her. I want to. I think I want to. I am terrified of my own feelings for her. And we share such an intense sexual connection, I am afraid that is clouding my judgement. So I keep pushing her away. I think too hard this time. I don’t think she will come back this time and I feel devastated by it.”

“Then, you’ll just have to go to her if you want to make it work. Apologize for being such a miserable bitch and make it up to her. Love is scary, but, being alone is worse.”

Cassandra hesitated. “But it makes me think about relationships in general. It can be complicated sometimes. Like, when it comes to age differences. You and Alex have quite an age gap. Has that ever made you uncomfortable?” She’d often watched Vivienne and Alex navigate their relationship, which seemed to have its share of ups and downs like any other. “Was the age gap ever a problem for you two?”

Vivienne paused for a moment, swirling the wine in her glass as she thought about her answer. “In the beginning, yes, I think it was. When Alex and I first got together, people had opinions. But honestly, those opinions didn’t bother us much. She makes me feel a lot younger.” She smiled wistfully. “Sometimes it felt like we were at different stages in life. I think that’s okay though, as long as your other, deeper values align.”

Cassandra listened, captivated by the comparisons. Vivienne continued, “At first, I worried that our age difference would set us apart, that we wouldn’t relate to each other. But as time went on, I realized it helped us grow. I brought a bit of my experienceinto the relationship, while Alex introduced me to a different mindset. It was refreshing.”

Cassandra raised an eyebrow. “So you found it beneficial?”

“I did,” Vivienne replied. “But it wasn’t all easy. There were times when I felt like I had more responsibilities, like I had to guide her when she was deciding her future. That can be tough, especially when you’re in a romantic relationship. But I also think we balanced each other out.”

Cassandra could hear the depth of Vivienne’s thoughts as she spoke. “That makes sense. So you think there are more pros than cons?”

“Definitely,” Vivienne said with confidence. “We learned how to communicate better, to share our thoughts and feelings with very different people. I mean, every relationship has its challenges, but I think the age gap taught us important lessons about patience and empathy. But I won’t pretend that it’s all rainbows and butterflies. There were tough days. People might see us and think we have it all figured out, but like any couple, we’ve hit rough patches.”

Cassandra took another sip of her wine, reflecting on Vivienne’s words. “Sometimes, I worried that Alex would outgrow me. It was a fear I had for quite a while. But instead of pulling us apart, it brought us closer. We talked about those insecurities and shared our thoughts. Open communication was key.”

Cassandra admired Vivienne’s openness. “That’s brave of you. I can see how that kind of communication would help.”

“Absolutely,” Vivienne agreed. “Also, it was interesting to see how my friends reacted. Some were supportive, while others didn’t quite understand it. We had to navigate that together, too. But Alex and I learned to lean on each other instead of letting the outside world get to us.”

Cassandra found herself nodding, encouraged by Vivienne’s story. “It sounds like you and Alex made a real effort to understand each other. It can’t be easy, but that’s what makes a relationship strong.”

“I believe so,” Vivienne said, her expression serious. “Every disagreement turned into an opportunity to learn about one another. There’s beauty in that process. It shows us what we value, what we want in this journey together.”

Vivienne leaned back in her chair, a soft smile gracing her lips. “The age difference? It may come with its challenges, but I wouldn’t trade my experience with Alex for anything. I love her for who she is, not her age. And while it’s important to know each other’s backgrounds, we create our own story.”

Cassandra took a sip of her wine as she pondered Vivienne’s words. “I can see that,” she said finally. “It sounds like you both have made a great life together.”

Vivienne’s eyes danced with joy. “We really have. It takes work, but every relationship does, right? It’s about what you’re willing to put into it. And honestly, I think age differences can add a unique flavor to a relationship.”

Cassandra chuckled softly, feeling a sense of camaraderie with her friend. “You’re right. I guess I hadn’t thought of it that way before. It’s refreshing to hear your perspective.”

“Plus,” Vivienne added with a mischievous grin, “there’s always one of us who’s excited about the new trends while the other is reminiscing about ‘the good old days.’ It keeps things lively.”

They both laughed, the mood lifting as they clinked their glasses together. It was easy to share these moments with Vivienne, a friend who completely understood what she was going through.

As they settled into a comfortable silence, Cassandra couldn’t help but think about her own journey with Nadine. Theconversation had shifted something inside her. It was reassuring to hear how Vivienne and Alex navigated their differences, discovering strength in their love.

After a moment, Cassandra spoke again. “Vivienne…how do you feel about the future? Does age still concern you?”

Vivienne took a deep breath, looking thoughtful. “You know, I think about it sometimes, sure. But at the end of the day, what matters most is our love and commitment. If we focus on the time we have together, the rest seems less significant.”

Cassandra smiled, inspired by her friend’s words. “That’s beautiful. You have a way of seeing things clearly, Vivienne.”

Vivienne chuckled. “It’s all part of growing up, I suppose! I tried to learn from all of my experiences, especially those that challenge me.”

Cassandra leaned forward. “Thank you for sharing this with me. It’s nice to know that we aren’t alone in our struggles, and that love takes many shapes.”

“What’s going on, fashion queen?” Vivienne pried. Cassandra smiled, grateful for her friend’s interest. “What else is bothering you?”

“I don’t even know where to begin,” she admitted.

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