I would say that the evening skies bore bleak, ominous clouds with booming thunder and a lightning strike or two in between, far from it. The night stood perfectly with a full moon and a small sprinkling of stars contrasted against the noise and lights from the busy city traffic below Evangeline's fifth-floor apartment. The storm, however, came from the ongoing, intense, heated back and forth between the two. Indeed, Evangeline's move to Arizona created this chasm that had not diminished. Their last exchange created innuendo through a cold cell. The only difference this time was video chat.   

But why call now, she thought, if it was merely to carry on the same disagreement from a couple of months before? She allowed him the space and time to move past his anger while her new workspace and client base occupied her tight schedule.  

"It was so easy for you to leave," he repeated, dragging his manicured fingers along his blonde mane. His gorgeous blue eyes lacked their usual warmth, more accusatory than supportive; fiery and unapologetic. His exquisite body sat rigid, unyielding. Even in anger, he conveyed a certain aesthetic unlike any other man in her life.  

"Optics aside, this is a work-related move." She admitted her delivery of the news might not have been the greatest. "It is not about us or where our relationship needs to proceed. Arguing over the same issue voids effective communication."  

"That's where you are wrong, Counselor. I'm effectively communicating my displeasure about our new arrangement. You are over 2000 miles away!"  

"Please get it through that thick skull of yours that I am not running away from us or entertaining another man in my life."   

"I haven't seen or heard from you during these last couple of months."   

"I haven't seen you either," she countered. "You could have hopped on your private jet and visited me, but I get it. I truly do." She took in a deep breath. "There is so much going on in your life that such a move is unwise and impractical. Babe, all I am asking is for a little patience."    

The room shifted into a muted silence. They had reached an impasse and words failed them. Evangeline took a mental note of his attire. Compared to her t-shirt and shorts, he appeared dressed for a casual evening out - a black tailored shirt paired with grey chinos. 

Humph, she thought.  

She loosed her hair bun, shaking out her long tresses. Victor enjoyed the moment regardless of his trepidation. Her beauty forever captivated him. She needn't do much to set any man's heart aflame. He would do anything for her if she only asked.  Sometimes he sensed that she chose to bear the weight of the world alone. 

"Babe, talk to me. Why do I have this horrible impression that there is something you are not telling me."   

Evangeline balked at this notion, "There is nothing to share. All I want is your trust and encouragement. You and I have walked a long road together and apart...."   

"Not you and I," he instantly corrected. "You and my alter ego...Todd Manning."   

"What?" Evangeline folded her arms in disgust. 

"I cannot compete with a ghost, Evangeline. You shared every truth, secret, doubt, and fear with Todd. I asked you one simple question..."   

"Whether you be Todd or Victor, you know all of me! When you were transitioning. I asked you not to shut me out, and you did." She lowered her eyes. He gazed at her, stunned. "Sure, it bothered me, but again I let it go for your sake." 

"Did you truly let it go?" 

"Certainly. You needed to find yourself. I was powerless to change the fact that the Todd I knew was gone forever, and we all had to move on. Honey, I understand it affected you more than any of us." She sniffled, wiping a couple of tears away.   

"It's not that I didn't need you but..." He hung his head low recalling those awful memories. He was mad at the world. Irene dealt him a cruel hand. She effectively created a clone of his brother. He was left unsure of who he was and which road to take. He also lost the best things in his life - Starr and Jack. Sam was his one certainty. The light at the end of his dark tunnel but had he failed to remember his best friend? 

"I wanted to be your shoulder to lean on. I saw it as an opportunity to learn and appreciate this new you, a new presence in my life. Now we could pursue a relationship devoid of all the baggage and surrounding drama," her voice trailed off. "I selfishly wanted it to be a fresh steps enroute to who we were meant to be." 

Questions started bombarding his mind. Did he do the right thing? Was it necessary to push aside your friendship in the name of protecting her? Did his refusal to let her into his confidence cause this standoffish approach towards him?   

"Sweetheart, I'm sorry...please forgive me."   

"Victor, it's late. I seriously need to decompress. We can discuss this another time, okay."   

"Sure," he quickly agreed.   

That was it. She logged off and his screen went dark. 

After the link ended, Evangeline crawled into bed and fell into a deep sleep. Victor, however, stared at the blank screen for a long time until an incoming call distracted him.   

"I know what I said, but not tonight. You don't need to ask why. I'm simply not in the mood for company."