Closure

Eleanor left the bistro after meeting with Emily, her mind was swirling with conflicting emotions. She was relieved at least to be off her shackles so she could concentrate on the people that mattered to her. She walked briskly, trying to clear her head before returning home.

When she entered their apartment, Whitney greeted her with a warm smile, not wanting to dampen the mood, she suggested they go out for a drink at their favorite bar. At the bar, they settled into a cozy corner booth, surrounded by the buzz of conversation and clinking glasses.

As they sipped their drinks, Eleanor noticed a familiar figure across the room. It was Alex, sitting alone at one corner, his expression distant. She felt a pang of guilt and regret wash over her, realizing how much she had hurt him. Whitney followed her gaze and nudged her gently.

"Hey, that's your friend from the other day right? Why don't you go talk to him?" she suggested, her voice soft with concern.

Eleanor hesitated, torn between the desire to confront Alex and the fear of reopening old wounds. But she knew that avoiding the conversation would only prolong their unresolved issues.

Taking a deep breath, she nodded. "You're right," she said, mustering up her courage. "I'll go talk to him."

Leaving Whitney at the table, she made her way across the room to where Alex was sitting. As she approached, she could see the tension in his shoulders, the furrowed brow that spoke of inner turmoil.

"Hey, Alex," she said softly, sliding onto the stool beside him. He looked up, surprise flickering in his eyes before it was quickly replaced by a guarded expression.

"Hello," he replied, his voice neutral. They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of their past hanging heavy between them. Eleanor searched for the right words, struggling to find a way to bridge the gap that had formed between them.

Finally, she spoke, her voice hesitant. "I know I've not really being a good person to you," she began. "And I just wanted to say that I'm sorry for how I've treated you. I never meant to hurt you."

His expression softened slightly, though the tension in his shoulders remained. "It's not just about that," he said, his voice tinged with frustration. "It's the fact that you know how I feel about you, yet you treat me like a toy..."

Eleanor nodded, feeling a lump form in her throat. "I know," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "And I'm sorry. I've been dealing with a lot lately, and I guess I haven't been handling it very well."

They fell into a tense silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Eleanor could feel the weight of their conversation pressing down on her, the heaviness of their unresolved issues hanging in the air.

Finally, Alex sighed, breaking the silence. "I love you, Eleanor," he said quietly, his voice filled with longing. "I really do. I just can't stop thinking about you and it's killing me."

Eleanor took a deep breath, "Uhm.. I know but there's something I need to tell you," she began, her voice trembling slightly with nervousness. "I... I like you too. Maybe I love you...I dunno."

Alex's expression softened, his eyes reflecting a mixture of surprise and curiosity. "You do?" he asked, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

She nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. "Yes," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "But there's something you should know... I'm bisexual."

For a moment, there was silence as he processed her words. Then, to Eleanor's relief, he smiled. "Hey, that doesn't change how I feel about you," he said, reaching out to gently cup her face in his hands. "I've always cared about you," he said, his expression earnest. "And if you're telling me that you have feelings for me, then I want to explore that. I want to see where this could go."

Relief flooded through Eleanor, washing away her fears and doubts. She reached out, taking his hand in hers. "Thank you," she said, her voice choked with emotion. "Thank you for being willing to accept me, for who I am."

Alex squeezed her hand gently, a reassuring smile on his lips. "Eleanor, I don't care about labels," he said. "All I care about is you. And if being with you means accepting all of you, then I'm more than willing to do that."

Tears welled up in Eleanor's eyes as she looked at him, overwhelmed by his acceptance. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion.

He leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "I just want you to be happy," he murmured, his breath warm against her skin.

Eleanor's heart ached at his words. She reached out tentatively, placing a hand on his arm. "I missed you " she admitted, her voice thick with emotion.

Alex looked at her, his eyes searching hers for sincerity. After a moment, he nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I missed you too," he said softly. 

Eleanor took a deep breath, her heart racing as she motioned for Whitney to join them at the table. "Hey Whit, come over here," she called out, her voice tinged with nervousness.

Whitney glanced over, her eyebrows furrowing in confusion as she made her way to the table. "What's going on?" she asked, her tone curious.

Eleanor took a moment to compose herself before speaking. "I want to introduce you guys formally, this is Alex," she said, gesturing towards the man sitting across from her. "Alex, this is Whitney. She's my girlfriend."

Alex's eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly recovered, offering Whitney a warm smile. "Nice to meet you, Whitney," he said, extending his hand across the table.

Whitney shook his hand, her expression shifting from confusion to understanding. "Likewise," she replied, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

Eleanor let out a sigh of relief, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders as she watched the two most important people in her life exchange pleasantries. Despite the initial nerves, she knew that this moment was a significant step forward in her journey towards honesty and acceptance.