The crash of shattering glass echoed through the large living room.
Mary froze.
"You're useless, Mary! Completely useless!"
James's furious voice filled the room.
Mary swallowed the lump in her throat and slowly bent down to gather the broken pieces.
"James, please," she whispered. "Lower your voice. At least for Lexy's sake."
"For his sake?" James scoffed. "You think pretending everything is fine is what's best for him?"
Mary remained silent.
James paced angrily across the room.
"Maybe I should find someone else. Someone who actually knows how to be a proper wife."
Mary's fingers stopped.
The words hurt.
They always did.
But she had learned how to hide it.
She continued picking up the pieces of glass.
Then—
"Mum?"
Both parents froze.
Mary looked toward the doorway.
Lexy stood there.
His blue eyes moved from his father to his mother, then to the shattered glass on the floor.
"Dad... what's going on?"
Mary immediately stood.
"Nothing, sweetheart."
She forced a smile.
"Your father and I were just having a discussion."
Lexy looked at her carefully.
He knew that smile.
It wasn't real.
"Mum..."
"I'm fine."
She stepped toward him and gently touched his arm.
"Go upstairs, okay? I'll be fine."
Lexy glanced at his father.
James said nothing.
Finally, Lexy nodded.
"Okay, Mum."
He walked away.
Mary watched him disappear down the hallway.
Only when he was gone did the smile disappear from her face.
Lexy closed his bedroom door and leaned against it.
His father's words replayed in his mind.
Maybe I should find someone else.
His jaw tightened.
He hated the way his father spoke to his mother.
His mother worked tirelessly as the principal of their school. She carried responsibilities most people never saw, yet his father acted as though she contributed nothing.
Lexy sat on the edge of his bed.
His eyes burned.
A tear slipped down his cheek.
He quickly wiped it away.
"I have to be strong for Mum."
He took a deep breath.
Then his eyes fell on the clock.
His expression changed.
"Alena."
He had forgotten the time.
She was waiting for him.
He immediately grabbed his jacket and hurried out.
A Few Minutes Later
The evening air was cool.
Lexy walked quickly, his hands buried in his pockets.
He tried to put on his usual smile.
He tried to forget the argument.
But the weight in his chest wouldn't disappear.
Then he saw her.
Alena.
She was standing beside the railing, waiting patiently.
The evening breeze moved gently through her hair.
When she noticed him, her face immediately brightened.
"You're late."
Her tone was playful.
Lexy smiled faintly.
"Sorry."
"Where were you?"
"Got held up at home."
Alena studied his face.
Something wasn't right.
"Lexy... are you okay?"
"I'm fine."
He gave her a smile.
But it didn't reach his eyes.
Alena could tell.
She didn't know him well enough to understand everything he was feeling, but she knew that smile wasn't genuine.
She could have asked again.
Instead, she simply said,
"Come on."
"Where?"
"Let's walk."
Lexy looked at her.
Then nodded.
"Okay."
They started walking.
For several moments, neither spoke.
The silence wasn't uncomfortable.
Alena simply stayed beside him.
She didn't demand an explanation.
She didn't ask questions he wasn't ready to answer.
She was just there.
And somehow, that helped.
Their hands brushed once.
Then again.
Alena glanced down.
A tiny smile appeared on her lips.
She suddenly grabbed his hand.
Lexy looked at her.
"What are you doing?"
"If you're going to sulk the whole evening, I might as well keep you anchored."
He raised an eyebrow.
"Anchored?"
"Yes."
She nodded seriously.
"You look like a ship that's lost at sea."
Lexy laughed softly.
"So I'm lost?"
"No."
She squeezed his hand.
"Temporarily off course."
Then she lifted her chin dramatically.
"But don't worry."
She smiled.
"Captain Alena is here."
Lexy laughed.
"Captain?"
"Yes."
"Do you even know how to sail?"
Alena waved her free hand.
"Who needs to know how to sail when you've got charm and an unshakable sense of direction?"
He shook his head.
"You're ridiculous."
She smiled.
"But you're smiling now."
Lexy paused.
He was.
Actually smiling.
Alena grinned proudly.
"See? Mission accomplished."
He shook his head.
"You're impossible."
"Impossible but effective."
She bumped his shoulder.
And for the first time that evening, the heaviness in Lexy's chest began to loosen.