Chapter 4 Opaque As Glass

The dinner table was a lively scene, filled with the familiar sounds of clinking silverware, soft laughter, and casual conversation. Elena sat at the head of the table, surrounded by her parents, Marcus, and their young son Eli, who was animatedly talking about his recent adventures at school. The Vance family dinners had always been a source of comfort for Elena. Laughter and the warm embrace of family were the things that kept her grounded.

But tonight, something felt off. The lighthearted chatter seemed to bounce off of her like an echo in an empty room. She tried to smile and join in, but her mind kept wandering to the distance she'd felt between her and Marcus over the past few weeks. His disinterest was like a shadow that followed her everywhere, and no matter how hard she tried to shake it off, it always lingered.

Across the table, Marcus sat, his shoulders hunched slightly, his eyes focused on his phone. He didn't contribute much to the conversation, occasionally nodding, offering one-word responses. His attention was so absorbed in the device that it almost felt like he wasn't even present. The silence between them grew with every passing minute, and Elena couldn't ignore it any longer. The air was thick with unsaid words, and every time she looked at him, the knot in her stomach tightened.

Her mother, Karen Vance, noticed the shift immediately. As a woman who had spent years watching her daughter, she could tell when something was wrong. Karen had always been the warm, nurturing type and Elena's confidante, the person she turned to in moments of uncertainty. And tonight, it was clear that her mother was picking up on something that Elena herself was trying so hard to hide.

"Elena, darling, how's the new project going at work?" Karen asked, her voice soft but laced with concern. "Is it keeping you busy?"

Elena hesitated before responding, not wanting to reveal the depth of her troubles to her mother, especially in front of Marcus. "It's going well," she said with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Busy, but I'm managing. Just trying to get everything in place before the launch."

"That's good," her mother said, but her eyes narrowed, taking in the tension between Elena and Marcus. "You know we're always here for you, right? If you need anything, just let us know."

Elena's heart clenched as she met her mother's gaze. Karen's words were comforting, but they also carried an undertone of something more, like an unspoken question that Elena wasn't ready to answer. It wasn't that she didn't appreciate her mother's concern; it was that the truth was complicated, and she wasn't sure how to say it out loud.

The conversation moved on, but Elena found it increasingly difficult to concentrate. She could feel Marcus's presence next to her, but it was as though he were a ghost. He wasn't truly there, not in the way that mattered.

As the meal came to a close, Elena offered to help her mother clean up, but Karen insisted that she relax. "I'll take care of it, sweetie," Karen said, giving her a knowing smile. "You go spend some time with Marcus. You two haven't had much of a chance to talk lately."

Elena gave a tight lipped smile, nodding in agreement. "I'll go check on Eli first. He was getting restless during dinner."

She left the dining room, heading toward the living room, but she could feel her mother's eyes on her back as she walked away.

Moments later, she found herself standing in the doorway of Eli's bedroom, watching him as he played with his toy cars. His small hands moved quickly, his face filled with concentration. The sight of him, so full of innocence and joy, made Elena's heart ache. It was hard to see him growing up so quickly, but what was even harder to bear was how distant she felt from Marcus who had always been her rock.

She heard footsteps behind her and turned to find her mother standing in the doorway. Karen didn't say anything at first, just watched her daughter with a concerned expression, before she quietly asked, "Elena, sweetheart, can we talk for a minute?"

Elena felt a chill wash over her. Her mother's tone was so soft, but there was a sharpness to it that made Elena's chest tighten. She had been trying to keep up the illusion that everything was fine, that the cracks in her marriage could be patched up without anyone noticing. But her mother, with her years of experience, had seen right through her.

"Of course, Mom," Elena said, her voice strained.

Karen motioned toward the living room and led the way. Elena followed, her heart pounding in her chest. They sat down on the couch together, the weight of the conversation hanging in the air.

"Elena," her mother began, her voice gentle yet firm. "I've been watching you, and I can tell something is wrong. You've been trying to keep it together, but I can see the cracks. I've seen the way you've been looking at Marcus, the way he's been pulling away from you. And I can't help but wonder... are you okay?"

Elena's eyes welled with tears, but she quickly blinked them away, not wanting to show any vulnerability. Not to her mother. Not to anyone.

"I'm fine, Mom," Elena said quickly, her voice almost too defensive. "It's just a phase. Marcus is stressed with work, and I've been busy with my project. It's nothing we can't handle."

Her mother's gaze softened, but there was a knowing look in her eyes. "Sweetheart, I know you. And I know that when you're not okay, you tend to hide it. But you don't have to do that with me. I'm here for you."

"I said I'm fine," Elena snapped, her hands trembling slightly. "I don't need anyone telling me what to do, especially not now. Marcus and I are fine, okay? We're just... going through a rough patch. It happens in every marriage."

Karen didn't flinch at her daughter's harsh words. Instead, she reached over and placed a hand on Elena's, her touch warm and steady. "I'm not here to tell you what to do, darling. But I want you to be happy. I want you to be loved. And right now, I can see that you're not getting the love you deserve from Marcus."

Elena pulled her hand back quickly, as though her mother's touch burned. "Don't. You don't understand," she said, her voice rising with frustration. "It's not that simple. You don't know what's going on between us. I can't just throw everything away because things are a little difficult."

Karen's eyes softened even further, filled with both concern and empathy. "I'm not asking you to throw anything away, Elena. But you deserve someone who sees you. Who cherishes you. Who puts you and Eli first. Don't settle for less than what you deserve."

Elena's chest tightened. She didn't want to hear it. Not now. Not when she was still holding on to the hope that things could go back to the way they were. She stood up abruptly, trying to suppress the rising emotions inside of her.

"I'm not settling," she said, though the words came out more like a plea than a statement. "Marcus and I can work through this. I know we can."

Her mother stood as well, her expression softening. "I believe in you, Elena. I do. But I also know that sometimes, we hold on to something because we're afraid to let go. Just promise me one thing: don't lose yourself in this. Don't forget who you are in the process."

Elena nodded, swallowing hard, but she couldn't bring herself to speak. Her mother's words lingered in her mind, but she wasn't ready to face the truth yet. She wasn't ready to accept that the man she had loved so deeply, the man who had been her partner for so many years, was slowly slipping away from her.

"Thanks, Mom," she said quietly, before turning away and heading back toward Eli's room, desperate to hide from the questions she wasn't ready to answer.

Later that evening, after Eli was asleep, Elena sat alone in the living room, the weight of the conversation with her mother pressing down on her. She tried to push the doubts away, to hold on to the hope that things could be fixed with Marcus. But the more she thought about it, the more she realized that the distance between them wasn't just physical, it was emotional too.

And for the first time, Elena wondered if she could fix what was broken, or if it was too late to save something that had already begun to fade.