Hailey Davies: Whispering with a quiver in her voice We need to talk. It's about the future. For the baby.
we’ve lived together for about three years and everything’s been fine for the most part… we’re still in that “new relationship energy”, where everything’s exciting. However, recently there have been some changes… he’s been acting sort of out of character, even more recently than usual… you’re both at home when he comes up to you… he’s got that look in his eyes that you’ve never seen before… “can we talk?” his tone is even… but there’s an underlying urgency…
runs her fingers through her hair, nervously Uh, sure... what's on your mind? leans against the wall, crossing her arms
he sighs, running a hand through his hair “look, babe.. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately… and I don’t know how to say this.. but.. I think we need to take a break…”
eyes widen, heart racing Wh-what do you mean? You're breaking up with me? Is something wrong? Did I do something? voice cracking
his eyes soften at your tears… “no, babe, it’s not you.. it’s me. I just.. I’m feeling suffocated, I guess.. like I don’t have a lot of freedom.. and it’s making me feel.. trapped.”
takes a deep breath, wiping away her tears Oh, I understand... I do. I've felt trapped too sometimes. But we can work through this, right?
he nods slowly “yeah, I’m sure we could.. it’s just gonna take some time.. and space..”
sniffs, trying to compose herself Okay, well, let's give it a try. Give us some space, and let's see where this takes us.
he steps closer to you, placing a gentle hand on your cheek “thank you.. for understanding”
takes a deep breath, mustering up her courage Thank you for being honest with me. I want us to make this work. Let's try to communicate more openly and honestly from now on, okay?
he nods “I’ll try my best to keep that in mind..”
stands up straight, determination in her eyes Alright, let's sit down and talk about what this space means to both of us.
he looks down at the floor for a moment, before meeting your gaze again “well, it means not having to hide our love anymore.. being able to fully express ourselves.. it’s what I’ve always wanted.”
smiles softly, reaching out to hold Claire's hand I get it. I want that too. Let's figure out a way to make that happen, okay?
he squeezes your hand gently “I appreciate you, Haley.”
nods, squeezing Claire's hand back I appreciate you too, Claire. Let's work on creating a space where we both feel free and comfortable.
he leans in, resting his forehead against yours “we can make it work.. I know we can.”
grabs a notebook and pen Alright, let's start brainstorming ways to create this space. We can start by listing down things that make us feel trapped and things that bring us joy.
he nods thoughtfully “that sounds like a good first step..”
scribbles in the notebook Okay, let's start with my feelings. When I feel trapped, I feel suffocated and overwhelmed.
he listens intently “and when you don’t feel trapped?”
pauses for a moment, tapping her pen against her chin When I don't feel trapped, I feel liberated and inspired.
a small smile forms across his face “liberated and inspired..” he mumbles softly to himself, almost as if agreeing with you, but with a subtle undertone of something else.. something he doesn’t quite want to share yet
notices the subtle undertone in Claire's voice Hey, is everything okay? You seem hesitant.
he hesitates, then sighs “it’s nothing.. don’t worry about it.”
raises an eyebrow suspiciously Don't worry about it? Seriously? That's not gonna fly with me, Claire. Spill it, what's going on?
he looks over at you, his eyes filled with uncertainty “I’m sorry, Haley.. I just can’t shake this feeling.. it’s like there’s something missing.. I don’t know how to describe it.. but….” his voice trails off, and he looks away, clearly conflicted
gently grips Claire's shoulders, looking directly into their eyes Hey, don't apologize. We're in this together, remember?
he nods slowly, looking into your eyes “yeah, we are.. I just.. I don’t want you to think that it’s your fault or anything.. I just need some time..”
softens her expression Claire, I understand that you need some time. And I'll be here for you whenever you're ready to talk more.
he smiles weakly “thanks, Haley.. I really appreciate it.”
takes a deep breath, mustering up her courage Claire, I think it might be helpful to set some boundaries.
he raises an eyebrow curiously “boundaries..?”
leans in closer, speaking softly Yes, boundaries. Boundaries that respect our needs and desires. For example, I need some alone time every now and then to recharge.
he nods slowly, listening “alright.. I can agree with that..”
jots down the boundary in her notebook Great. So, our first boundary is: regular alone time. Any other thoughts on boundaries?
he thinks for a moment, before speaking “well, I think.. I think it would be good if we have open communication.. no secrets..” he pauses, then continues “but with boundaries of course.. we shouldn’t push each other’s buttons.”
smiles warmly Absolutely, Claire. Open communication is crucial, and setting boundaries will help us navigate any conflicts that may arise.
he nods slowly, a determined look in his eyes “okay, I think we’re making progress..”
looks at Claire with determination Great! Now that we've established some boundaries, let's work on creating a schedule.
he nods “sounds good.. a schedule can be a good idea.”
opens her notebook and starts jotting down specific times for regular check-ins, date nights, and alone time Alright, let's start with weekly date nights. Every Friday night, we'll set aside time just for us. How does that sound?
he smiles, nodding “every friday night.. I like that..”
continues writing in her notebook Perfect! And let's not forget self-care Sundays. Once a month, we'll each have a day to ourselves to relax and recharge. What activities would you like to see on our schedule?