Sunrise At Midnight

As Lexi walked home on that crisp evening, she made a brief stop for a steaming latte. The city of New York pulsed around her, alive with people rushing to and fro. She found solace in the cacophony; sometimes it drowned out her own thoughts, while other times she yearned for silence.

Just as she savored the warm brew, the cafe door swung open and Adrian stepped inside. He walked towards her, taking a seat in front of her.

" You're late." Lexi said before Adrian could say a word.

" I came as quickly as I could." Adrian replied.

" You asked to meet yet you kept me waiting. I'm also busy Adrian."

" I do not want to fight with you Lexi, not today. We need to talk."

" Well a simple apology would not hurt." Lexi muttered as she raised the mug to her lips, taking a small sip.

"Lexi, we need to break up," Adrian said, his voice firm. "This isn't working, and you know it."

Lexi's gaze pierced through him, almost boring a hole through his head, her eyes burning with a mix of emotions before she shifted her focus away. Had she been expecting this? Yes, she had. The writing was on the wall. They'd been drifting apart, the distance between them growing insurmountable.

Deep down, Lexi knew the relationship had ended long ago. Was it her fault? Partially. Adrian made her feel like she was too independent, that she needed to rely on him more. But Lexi couldn't surrender to that. She couldn't fully commit, always keeping one foot out the door, ready to bolt.

The silence between them was heavy, weighed down by unspoken truths. Lexi's thoughts swirled: Had she been using her independence as a shield? Yes.

Had she ever truly let Adrian in?

Adrian's voice broke the silence. "You've always been holding back, Lexi. I feel like I've been fighting for your heart, but you've never fully given it to me."

Lexi's eyes snapped back to his, a spark of defensiveness igniting within her. But she knew he was right.

Adrian continued. " I've thought about this and I can't keep trying to make this work. I'm seeing someone else, she's pretty and she cares about me. I don't want to keep leading you on."

" Is she younger?" Lexi asked.

" Yes, she's twenty five."

" Okay."

" Okay?"

" Yes. I agree that we should break up. It's long overdue and I'm glad you've found someone perfect for you." Lexi said calmly.

" Two years into this relationship and you look so calm that we're breaking up."

" What I'm I suppose to do? Yell at you? Freak out? Adrian I'm happy for you okay. We've both been very busy so this was expected."

Adrian nodded thoughtfully, his eyes lingering on Lexi's face. "I'm glad we can end this amicably," he said, his voice tinged with a hint of sadness. "Good luck, Lexi."

With that, he stood up, his chair scraping against the floor. Lexi watched, frozen, as he walked out of the café. Through the glass wall, she saw him pause, taking a deep breath before getting into his car. The engine roared to life, and he drove away, leaving Lexi alone.

A small, sharp pang struck her chest, like a tiny needle pricking her heart. She hadn't expected the ache, but it was there, lingering. Lexi's eyes dropped to her latte, the creamy foam now flat and unappealing. She pushed the cup away, her mind reeling.

The café's bustle faded into the background as Lexi sat, lost in thought. She had known this was coming, had even welcomed it. So why the sting? Was it regret, relief, or something else entirely?

As she sat there, Lexi realized she needed to confront the emotions Adrian's departure had unearthed.