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A quiet summer evening, year 804.
Ael was reclining on their dark brown corduroy couch, reading a new mystery novel titled Why We Roam. It had been an easy day today, working on just a few requests before closing up shop and resting for the evening. It had been a while since Ael had had an evening with her partner and Nora offered to cook dinner.
The soft sound of the front door shutting, the lock being turned into place, the telltale signs of domestic bliss. “I think I’m going to give this mystery novel a chance!” Ael called out to Nora. “I’m really enjoying this author’s prose.”
Nora emerged from the walkway with a large bag of groceries.
“Wow, what kind of dinner did you have planned?” Ael stood and moved to welcome her partner home, pressing a light kiss to her cheek.
“We should talk.” Nora said, her voice serious.
Ael’s smile fell as she nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. “What’s wrong?” The book was forgotten and Ael took her partner’s hand, leading them both to the couch. “Did something happen?”
Nora shook her head. “I… I’ve been thinking about what you said…About you not wanting a family.” Her eyes were fixed on the wood flooring, unable to look up.
A faint memory played in Ael’s mind. A quiet conversation late at night, practically pillow talk.
“Nora, that’s not what I said.”
“You know what I mean.” Nora’s fists clenched and her eyes screwed shut. “You don’t want kids.”
Ael’s stomach dropped, her mouth suddenly dry. The countdown had begun two months ago with this very same conversation - it seemed they were finally at the end.
“I know that this is hard, but-”
“It doesn’t have to be hard, Nora. We can talk about it, we can work through it-”
“I want kids.” Her voice shook. “I want to come home and see my kids playing outside, I want to pass on everything I know to someone who will go farther than me, I want to have a family.”
Ael bit her lip in a poor attempt to stop it from quivering, she wiped her tears with the palm of her hand. “We could be a family.”
“Don’t.” Nora pleaded.
“I thought we were a family.”
“Ael, it’s not fair to either of us to keep this going.” She sighed. This seemed so easy for her. How was this so easy for her?
“So that’s it? That’s what it comes down to? You don’t even want to talk about it.” Ael’s voice broke, the tears wouldn’t stop. Gods, she felt so weak. She wanted to shake herself for crying. Fight! She thought. Fight for it!
“We talked about it two months ago! And you-” She stopped herself. “I love you.”
“...but.”
“But I need to be with someone who wants what I want. I can’t keep wasting-”
“ Wasting? ” Ael covered her mouth with her hands, her body shook as she fought to keep quiet. “You’re wasting your time on me?” She choked out, the words barely above a whisper.
“I…” Nora trailed off, not daring to move from her spot barely two feet from Ael. All Ael could feel was the distance. No arms around her, no whispers of comfort and love, no Nora. “I’m sorry, Ael. It’s for the best.”
Whatever parting words she wished to say didn’t come, she couldn’t bring herself to speak. She barely noticed when Nora finally stood to leave, taking the bag of “groceries” with her. She didn’t notice the plants beginning to wilt, a week later. She didn’t notice the gnawing hunger in the pit of her stomach. She didn’t notice the seasons begin to change.
She noticed the silence.