When the Tables Turn

The days after their argument felt heavy, like the air between Jalissa and Ethan had been filled with an unspoken tension. Though Ethan had apologized and promised to make things right, his actions didn't match his words. The cracks in their relationship were becoming impossible to ignore.

Jalissa sat on the couch, scrolling through job listings on her laptop. It wasn't the first time she'd thought about leaving her current position at the coffee shop, but now it felt more urgent. If she couldn't count on Ethan to prioritize their relationship, she needed to start focusing on herself.

Her phone buzzed beside her, and she picked it up to see a text from Gina.

Gina: Brunch tomorrow. You need it. No excuses.

Jalissa smiled faintly and typed back:
Jalissa: Fine. But you're buying.

She set the phone down and leaned back, staring at the ceiling. It felt like her heart was constantly in flux—caught between loving Ethan and feeling like she was being slowly torn apart by his neglect.

The next morning, Jalissa met Gina at a small café downtown. Gina was already seated at a table by the window, sipping on a mimosa and scrolling through her phone.

"You're late," Gina said, raising an eyebrow as Jalissa slid into the chair across from her.

"Traffic," Jalissa replied, waving it off. "What's so urgent that we had to meet at 10 a.m.?"

"You," Gina said pointedly. "You've been in your own little bubble of Ethan drama, and I'm here to pull you out of it. At least for an hour."

Jalissa sighed, resting her chin in her hand. "I don't even know where to start."

"How about you start with how you're really feeling?" Gina suggested, her tone softening.

"I feel like I'm falling apart," Jalissa admitted. "Like I'm giving and giving, and no matter what I do, it's never enough for him. He says he's doing this for us, but I don't see it. All I see is him building a life with Kate while I sit on the sidelines."

Gina shook her head, her expression firm. "Girl, listen to me. You are worth so much more than being someone's backup plan. If he can't see that, then you need to start seeing it for yourself."

Jalissa didn't respond right away. Instead, she stirred her coffee absentmindedly, her mind replaying all the moments she had overlooked—the late nights, the broken promises, the way Ethan seemed more at ease with Kate than with her.

"I don't know if I'm ready to walk away," she said finally.

"Then don't," Gina said. "But start taking care of yourself. Do things for you, J. Not for him."

That evening, Jalissa decided to take Gina's advice. She logged onto her computer and began searching for online business courses. If she was going to get her life back on track, she needed to start somewhere.

As she scrolled through different programs, Ethan walked in. He looked tired, as usual, but there was a hint of excitement in his eyes.

"Hey," he said, dropping his bag by the door. "Guess what?"

"What?" Jalissa asked, turning in her chair.

"We landed another investor," he said, a grin spreading across his face. "This is huge, J. It means we're really on track now."

"That's great, Ethan," Jalissa said, trying to muster enthusiasm.

Ethan didn't seem to notice her lack of energy. He walked over and kissed the top of her head. "I told you everything would work out. This is just the beginning."

She wanted to believe him. She wanted to share in his excitement. But all she could think about was how often she had heard those words before—how often he had promised her that things would change, only for nothing to happen.

A week later, Gina dragged Jalissa out for a night of karaoke at a local bar. The idea of singing in front of strangers wasn't exactly appealing, but Jalissa was desperate for a distraction.

As they settled into a booth with their drinks, Gina nudged her. "You see that guy at the bar? He's been checking you out since we walked in."

Jalissa glanced over and saw a tall, well-dressed man leaning casually against the counter. He caught her eye and smiled, raising his glass in a silent toast.

"He's cute," Gina said, wiggling her eyebrows.

Jalissa rolled her eyes. "I'm not looking for a rebound, Gina."

"Who said anything about a rebound? I'm just saying, it's nice to be noticed."

Jalissa couldn't argue with that. It had been a long time since she'd felt truly seen.

Later that night, Jalissa returned home to find Ethan on the couch, his laptop open and a pile of papers spread out around him.

"Hey," he said without looking up. "How was your night?"

"It was fine," she said, dropping her bag by the door.

"You didn't stay out too late, did you?" he asked, his tone casual but laced with something she couldn't quite place.

"No," she replied, crossing her arms. "Why does it matter?"

Ethan finally looked up, his expression surprised. "I was just asking."

"Well, maybe you should try asking about something that actually matters," Jalissa said, her frustration bubbling to the surface.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Ethan asked, setting his laptop aside.

"It means I'm tired, Ethan," she said, her voice trembling. "I'm tired of feeling like I'm not a priority in my own relationship. I'm tired of you making promises you don't keep. And I'm tired of pretending that everything is okay when it's not."

Ethan stared at her, his jaw tightening. "I told you, J. I'm doing this for us."

"No, Ethan," she said, shaking her head. "You're doing this for you. And maybe it's time I started doing the same."

The words hung in the air like a challenge, and for the first time, Jalissa felt like she was taking back some control.