The tension that had settled over their group since Alexa's arrival hung heavy in the air, thick and unspoken. They had all gathered in a dilapidated building just a few miles away from their old camp, trying to regroup and make sense of the situation. Alex and Alexa had insisted on heading out early the next morning to find more supplies, but the moment they had returned, the silence had only grown louder.
Elena had stayed back with the children, unable to shake the growing unease in her chest. She could feel the change in Alex, the way his eyes lingered on Alexa when she spoke, how his touch seemed to soften when he was near her. It was the way he used to look at her when the world wasn't falling apart.
Elena tried not to watch, but it was impossible. Every time Alex and Alexa exchanged a glance, Elena felt like an outsider. She couldn't ignore the connection between them, the unspoken bond that was undeniable.
"Do you think they'll make it?" Elena asked softly, breaking the silence. She was talking about the group Alexa had mentioned, the one she had supposedly found, but the words felt hollow coming from her mouth. She wasn't just concerned about the group—she was concerned about the shift happening before her eyes, the way Alex and Alexa seemed to draw closer with every passing minute.
"They will," Alex replied, his voice gentle but distant. He was still talking to Alexa, his eyes following her as she organized some supplies. It was subtle, but Elena noticed. She noticed everything.
As the hours passed, Elena tried to ignore the sting in her chest as Alex and Alexa seemed to fall into a rhythm, like they had done this before. Together. Elena's thoughts were a whirlwind. She wanted to push it aside, wanted to focus on the mission, but every moment felt like a reminder that she was no longer the only person in Alex's world. That place had been claimed long before she had even gotten the chance to truly understand her feelings.
By nightfall, their camp had settled into an uneasy quiet. The children were asleep, huddled close together for warmth. Alex and Alexa were still talking, their voices low, and Elena found herself at the edge of the building, staring into the dark.
She couldn't keep pretending. She had felt the pull toward Alex from the moment they met, and now that Alexa was back, she realized just how little room there was left for her in his life.
Just as she was about to step away, Alex approached her, his expression unreadable. He looked tired, but there was something else in his eyes—a sense of guilt, maybe?
"Elena," he said softly, his voice almost apologetic. "We need to talk."
Elena nodded, her heart hammering in her chest. "About what?"
Alex hesitated, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. He seemed like he wanted to say something more, but his eyes flicked over to where Alexa was sitting nearby, speaking quietly with one of the other survivors. She was safe, at least for now.
"I owe you an explanation," he began, his voice low but firm. "You deserve to know the truth."
Elena felt a cold chill in the pit of her stomach. The truth. The words hung between them like a blade, sharp and waiting to fall.
Alex took a deep breath, his eyes locking onto hers. "Alexa... she's my girlfriend. She has been for years. Before all this... before everything changed." He paused, the weight of the words sinking in.
Elena's stomach twisted. The feeling of betrayal hit her like a punch to the gut, but she kept her expression neutral. She had known this was coming. Deep down, she had known.
Alex's gaze softened, as if he was trying to read her, to understand how she was taking the news. But Elena felt numb, the warmth she had started to feel toward him turning cold.
"I didn't want you to think there was something... more, Elena. I don't want you to think I'm leading you on. But I need you to know that I'm with her. I've always been with her."
Elena looked away, trying to steady her breathing. She could feel her chest tighten, her heart aching with the weight of the words. She wanted to say something, to argue, to tell him how it felt to be left out like this. But no words came. She couldn't find them.
Instead, all she managed was a quiet nod.
Alex stepped closer, his voice softer now. "I didn't mean for you to get hurt. I just... I didn't know how to say it."
For a long moment, Elena said nothing. The world around them seemed to fall silent, as if waiting for her response. She couldn't tell him what she was really feeling—not now. Not when everything was so fragile.
"Alex..." she finally whispered, her voice barely audible. "I understand. You don't have to explain."
But inside, her emotions were a whirlwind. She had never felt so distant from him. He had been her anchor in a world that was falling apart, but now, she realized she had been holding onto something that wasn't really hers to begin with.
Alex sighed, his hand briefly resting on her shoulder, a gesture of comfort. But Elena couldn't feel it. The distance was already too wide.
"I'm sorry, Elena," he said again, before turning away. "I never meant to make you feel like... like you meant less."
As he walked back to Alexa, Elena remained standing in the shadows, the weight of the world pressing down on her. Her feelings for Alex had been undeniable, but now, they were a distant memory, eclipsed by the reality that he was with someone else.