Chapter 99: Fragile Distance
The sun was beginning to set on the horizon, painting the sky with shades of orange and gold, as Analú and Alexia returned to the port after the tense encounter with Nicolás and Britny. Although Analú tried to appear calm, her mind was still trapped in the affectionate gestures exchanged between Nicolás and his girlfriend. For the first time, the weight of her emotions made her question whether holding onto those feelings was worth it.
—You don’t have to keep torturing yourself —Alexia suddenly said, breaking the silence that had settled between them.
Analú turned to her, looking confused.
—Torturing myself? I don’t know what you’re talking about.
—Come on, Analú —Alexia sighed, crossing her arms—. I can see it on your face. You’re overthinking everything, and all for someone who has clearly chosen his path.
Alexia’s blunt comment hit like a slap. Analú wanted to respond, but the words didn’t come out. Instead, she diverted her gaze toward the water, trying to drown the emotions welling up in her chest.
—It’s not as simple as it seems, Alexia. I can’t control what I feel.
—No, but you can control what you do with it —Alexia insisted, her tone calmer—. You’re holding on to something that’s only hurting you. Honestly, I’m worried about you.
Analú didn’t reply. There was truth in her friend’s words, but accepting that truth filled her with an emptiness she didn’t know how to face.
When they finally reached the port, they decided to walk along the boardwalk for a while. The fresh breeze helped ease the tension in the air, though the weight of their conversation still lingered.
—You know? —Analú said, breaking the silence—. I always thought love was enough. That if you loved someone with all your heart, it was enough to make things work.
—And maybe it is, but only if both people are on the same page —Alexia replied softly—. If not, you’ll just end up exhausting yourself.
Analú stopped in front of a souvenir stand, absentmindedly looking at the keychains and bracelets. One, in particular, caught her eye: a small anchor charm.
—Do you know why I liked Nicolás so much? —she asked suddenly, still staring at the anchor.
—Because of his smile, because he makes you laugh… —Alexia ventured, remembering the times her friend had spoken about him.
Analú shook her head, clutching the small object in her fingers.
—It was because he made me feel safe. Like, no matter what happened, he’d always be there, like an anchor. But now… I feel like that safety is gone, and I’m adrift.
Alexia sighed, stepping closer to hug her friend.
—Sometimes, to find solid ground, you have to let go of the anchor that’s dragging you down.
Analú closed her eyes, allowing herself a few seconds of vulnerability. She didn’t know if she was ready to let go, but something in Alexia’s words gave her the strength to try.
—Thank you, Alexia. I don’t know what I’d do without you.
—The same thing you’ll do when this passes: keep moving forward —Alexia said with an encouraging smile.
The sky was completely dark by the time they decided to head home. Analú felt she had taken a small step toward healing, though the road ahead was still long.
However, a surprise awaited her upon arrival. At the mansion’s entrance stood a familiar figure, wearing a somber expression.
—Nicolás? —Analú asked, surprised.
The young man looked up, and though his lips curved into a smile, his eyes reflected something entirely different: regret.
—Can we talk? —he asked, his tone making Analú’s heart skip a beat.
Alexia, sensing the tension, decided to go inside first, leaving them alone. Analú crossed her arms, trying to maintain her composure.
—What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be with Britny? —she asked, her voice tinged with sarcasm and a hint of pain.
Nicolás took a step toward her but stopped, sensing the invisible barrier Analú had put between them.
—I can’t keep ignoring what I feel, Analú. And I know I’ve made mistakes, but I need you to listen to me…
Analú’s heart pounded in her chest, but she remained firm, determined not to let herself be swayed so easily this time.
—Go ahead, Nicolás —she said finally—. Talk.
As the night grew colder, they moved to one of the living rooms on the first floor, away from the hallways and rooms where interruptions might occur. The dim light from the lamps reflected the weight of the moment, creating an atmosphere of intimacy that neither of them desired but somehow felt inevitable.
Nicolás, still standing near the door, looked at her intently.
—I know things have been strange between us —he began, his tone calm but slightly tense—. I want you to know it was never my intention for things to get so complicated. If I ever made you feel like I was pushing you away or that I didn’t care, I’m sorry.
Analú watched him silently. She didn’t know what to say, but what she felt was confusion. She couldn’t deny the distance between them, but she didn’t fully understand how they had gotten to this point.
—It’s not just that —she responded in a low voice—. It’s that I don’t understand why everything between us suddenly changed. Why did you pull away from me? You know it wasn’t like this before.
Nicolás closed his eyes for a moment, as if searching for the right words. When he opened them, his gaze was direct, though laden with frustration.
—It wasn’t something I did intentionally. I didn’t choose to pull away from you, but things between us changed… and I don’t even know how it happened —he admitted with a hint of resignation—. But I assure you, it wasn’t because of me. Everything has been complicated since Britny came into our lives.
Analú felt a knot in her stomach at the mention of her name. She knew perfectly well that Britny’s presence had always been a delicate subject for Nicolás, but she hadn’t expected her influence to be the cause of everything that had happened between them.
—Britny… —she murmured, feeling frustration welling up inside her—. She’s the one who caused all this, isn’t she? She’s the reason you’ve pulled away from me, always in the middle of everything.
Nicolás stayed silent for a moment, clearly weighed down by Analú’s words.
—I didn’t want it to be this way —he replied, his tone heavier—. But she’s been… pressuring me, and I haven’t known how to handle it. I don’t want you to think I’ve chosen her over you, but things with her are complicated.
Analú let out a bitter laugh, feeling disappointment wash over her.
—I don’t understand, Nicolás. How can you keep letting her control everything between us? She’s doing it on purpose. She just wants to separate us, to drive you away from everyone who cares about you. And you keep letting her.
Nicolás looked at her, both confused and upset.
—It’s not like that. You don’t see it, but things with her aren’t that simple —his voice rose, frustrated—. I can’t just ignore her. I don’t know how to make you understand that.
Nicolás’s tone had changed, and it only made Analú feel more hurt. Anger built up inside her, and no matter how much she tried to control it, the words came out unfiltered.
—Of course, I understand. I just don’t want to be part of a game anymore. A game she’s controlling. Don’t you see, Nicolás? She’s manipulating you. And you don’t realize how much it’s affecting everyone—me, you, and everyone around you.
Nicolás took a deep breath, feeling frustration wash over him. He turned and started walking toward the door.
—Don’t keep pushing this, Analú. I don’t want to talk about Britny anymore. I can’t take it —he said without looking back.
Analú watched him, feeling sadness engulf her. Despite her anger, she knew she had reached the limit of what she could say. Nicolás had made his decision, and there was nothing more she could do. He had already drifted away, and no matter how hard she tried, her words no longer seemed to reach him.
Before leaving, Nicolás paused at the door and, without turning, said in a cold voice:
—If that’s how you feel, then there’s nothing more to say. I think it’s best if we stay apart for a while.
With those words, Nicolás left, leaving Analú alone in the room, her heart still pounding and the overwhelming feeling that, finally, everything had come to an end.