Natasha's heart ached as she sat alone in the corner of her bedroom, tears streaming down her cheeks. It had been a month since her heartfelt talk with Reynolds. She had hoped things would improve in their marriage. But instead, they seemed to be getting worse.
Reynolds started spending more time away from home, leaving Natasha alone and heartbroken. She would often find herself crying in every corner of their matrimonial home, feeling lost and alone.
She tried to put on a brave face during the day, but at night, the pain and loneliness consumed her.
She was in the kitchen crying, she heard a knock on the door. It was Xander, Reynold's best friend. He had come over looking forward to his usual gaming session with Reynolds. But instead, he found Natasha alone, crying.
Her usually bright eyes were clouded with sorrow, and the vibrant spirit he admired was dulled by the weight of her troubled marriage to his best friend, Reynolds.
"Hey! Hey! What's wrong?" he asked, concerned.
"I, I, I don't know what else to do, all my efforts for this God-forsaken marriage seems to be futile. I, I," Natasha stuttered while sobbing uncontrollably.
Without hesitation, Xander walked over to her and pulled her into a hug.
"It's okay, it's okay. Everything's gonna be fine." he whispered patting her gently on her back.
Natasha was taken aback by his unexpected gesture, but she couldn't help but pour her heart out to him.
"I did everything I could Xander. I know this marriage wasn't built on love but can't we make it work? I thought we could work on this together and make something meaningful out of it. But, he never cease to hurt me." She blurted.
"You've tried your best Natasha. Yes! You have. You are really a strong woman, but if he doesn't see your worth then have it at the back of your mind that it's his loss" Xander tried to comfort her with his words.
"No Xander, you don't get it. I feel so lonely." She blurted.
"I would be lying if I say I know how you feel, but I know you are a strong woman, and you don't deserve to be treated this way."
Natasha kept sobbing. It was so difficult for her to control her tears. Seeing someone come to her aid, made her want to let it all out and Xander understood her feelings.
"I'm so fed up! Why am I stuck in a marriage so tormenting? Why?" she blurted.
Xander listened patiently and then offered her some words of comfort.
"It's okay Natasha, don't force it back in, let it all out. People cry, not because they are weak Natasha, it's because they've been strong for too long. It's okay to have big emotions and it's also okay if you don't know what to do about it" He said wiping off the tears on her face.
"It's okay to cry if you feel like it." He continued to pat her back.
For the first time in a long while, Natasha felt seen and understood, but she couldn't help feeling a bit puzzled by Xander's sudden display of kindness. He offered words of comfort and reassurance, reminding Natasha that she was doing a great job.
As the sun set and the night appears, Natasha felt a sense of peace and gratitude for Xander's presence. He may not have been her husband but in that moment, he was her rock and solace.
After a restless night filled with worry, Xander decided to take action. He called Natasha. "Hey, I was thinking, how about we go out? Just the two of us. I know a great little café that just opened down town. They have the best pastries."
At first Natasha hesitated. 'Would it be too awkward? Could she really see Xander when her heart was still heavy with sorrow?' she wondered in her head, but the idea of staying cooped up in her house, drowning in her thoughts, felt unbearable.
She sighed deeply, wiping away remnants of yesterday's tears. "Okay Xander. I'd like that."
When they met an hour later, Xander was all smiles. As they strolled to the café, they chatted about everything, work, their mutual friends, and into safer territories: books and movies.
Laughter began to trickle back into Natasha's life, easing the tension that had clenched her chest for so long.
At the café, they shared decadent pastries, the sweetness of sugary desserts contrasting sharply with the bittersweet taste of her heart.
It was during a lull in their conversation that they noticed a little girl at the table next to them, giggling uncontrollably as her mother made funny faces.
Natasha's laughter rang out too, light and melodic, resonating like a bell in the air. Xander couldn't help but smile; it was as if he found a piece of Natasha that had been lost for too long.
"See?" he said, his piercing blue eyes sparkling with mischief. "You're still capable of joy, Natasha. You just needed a little distraction."
Natasha took a sip of her coffee, feeling the warmth spread through her. "I think I forgot that joy existed somewhere beneath all this hurt," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "Thank you for reminding me."
As they left the café, Xander suggested an impromptu visit to the nearby art gallery. "Come on, it will be fun! They have a new exhibit, he watched her as her face lit up, and it filled him with a sense of purpose.
He wanted her to realize she was still vibrant despite the storm clouds looming over her personal life.
Within the gallery's walls, they wandered through the colorful displays, letting the artistry wash over them. Natasha found herself mesmerized by a particular painting, a whirlwind of colors depicting a sunset over an ocean.
"Isn't it beautiful?" she gasped, almost breathless. Xander nodded, watching her with admiration.
"Just like you," he said softly.
The words hung in the air between them, compelling yet loaded.
Natasha felt a flicker of warmth in her chest but quickly pushed it aside. Xander was Reynold's friend, and the last thing she wanted was to complicate things further. But there was a comfort in their friendship that was undeniable.
As the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting a golden glow through the gallery windows, Natasha felt a sense of hope awaken within her. There was a long journey ahead, but maybe she could navigate it with a little laughter and kindness.
Later, as they walked back to her car, she turned to Xander and said, "Thanks for today. You have no idea how much I needed it."
"I think I do," he replied, his tone earnest. "You deserve to feel happy again, Natasha. No matter what happens with Reynolds, know that you're not alone in this. You have friends who care about you."
Natasha smiled, appreciating Xander's compassion. She felt a new found sense of strength surging through her.
Life would be complicated, and she couldn't ignore the challenges ahead, but today had shown her that joy was still within reach. And with friends like Xander by her side, she wasn't ready to give up on it just yet.
As they said their goodbyes, a lingering hope flickered in the depths of her heart. What she didn't realize was that it wasn't just joy she would find in the days to come; it was the possibility of new beginnings.