The action unfolds in the evening,
in the living room of an apartment. Outside the window was a dark sky covered with black clouds and moonlight, and the light of the street lamps that softly penetrated into the room through the window. The floor lamp lighted the living room.There were two of them in the room - Helen and William. They had been living together in this apartment for several years. At that moment, there was a heavy silence in the living room. Neither one uttered a word, both were silent, immersed in their thoughts. There was a quiet and silent tension in the air.
Suddenly, the silence was interrupted...
Helen: William, please tell me, how long do I have to wait?
William: What do you mean?
Helen: You understand everything perfectly well, don't pretend you don't understand me.
William: But I really don't understand. Just tell me, what are you talking about?
Helen: Just answer my question, please. How do you see our future?
William: Helen, what kind of question is that? What exactly do you want me to say?
Helen: William, you really don't know what I'm talking about, do you? Or are you pretending to? I asked you a perfectly understandable question, what don't you understand? Or you just don't want to answer me and are trying to avoid the conversation?
William: I'm not trying to avoid the conversation, but I just really can't understand why you're asking me that question and what you're trying to accomplish by asking me that question. Why did you bring it up?
Helen: Okay, since you don't understand that way, let me ask you this question. Are you going to start a family with me, that is, marry me and have children with me?
William: Helen... I've told you more than once. I don't want a family right now, I'm not ready for a family life. I don't want a marriage and kids right now. Is that what you wanted to hear?
Helen: When will you be ready? When is that time? How long do I have to wait until you're ready? I'm tired of waiting, William!
Willism: I cannot answer exactly and unequivocally when that time will come. But certainly not now, not in the near future. So, I need some time, and how long it will take me to get ready, I don't know. I can't predict that.
Helen: I just don't understand. You and I have been together for five years. I think that's enough time to start a family. I've been ready for marriage and kids for a long time. Why aren't you ready? What's the reason?
William: Now I want to build a career, pursue my hobbies, travel and fulfill my dreams. At the moment I don't see myself in family life. It would limit me and put pressure on me. And I want to live a free life, without restrictions and obligations. Do you understand? I'm too young to have a family.
Helen: Are you too young? Why don't I feel myself too young for a family? Why am I ready and you're still not? I mean, we're the same age.
Even though we're the same age.
William: I don't even know what to tell you, Helen. I guess you and I just have different paces of life. I think you need someone older than me. Maybe he'll give you what you want.
Helen: I think it's not about age, it's about priorities and values. Be honest, William. Maybe you don't want to start a family at all. Is that your excuse that you're not ready now and in fact you never want to start a family?
William: Helen, I don't know... Maybe you're right. Maybe marriage and children aren't for me. I don't feel like I'm really committed to starting a family. Maybe as I get older that will change and I'll want a family, but right now... I just don't need it.
Helen: William, I have heard these words many times that you are not ready for a family right now and maybe in the future you will change your mind. Frankly, I'm tired of living in this uncertainty. Let's settle this once and for all. I'm asking you a question: are we gonna be a family or not? I don't want words like, maybe someday later, but now I don't know or I don't want to. I need a clear and one-sentence answer, without vagueness.
William: Well, if you're so anxious to hear a clear answer from me, I'll tell you. You'd better find someone who will be ready to start a family right away and will not keep you in uncertainty like me than to waste time on me and on waiting. If you don't want to wait anymore, you don't have to wait, it's your right. You don't have to wait for me to mature and be ready for a family. Maybe I will never really want to start a family and I will be satisfied with a free bachelor life without marriage and children. I feel that I am not really made for family life. I am not the kind of man you can have a family with. I'm sorry that it took me so long time to give you that certainty about future. I'm afraid that with me, you won't have the future you want. You deserve a man who is committed to start a family, that is, marriage and children. Unfortunately, I can't give you what you want...
Helen: I heard you, William. Thank you for telling the truth. And that's exactly what I wanted to hear. I feel sorry that I wasted so many years on our relationship. I was just wasting my time...
In that instant, both fell silent again. Tears came to Helen's eyes and ran down her face. William looked at her with pity and guilt. Both felt and realized that this was the end of their relationship and they had no happy future together. Helen and William realized that it was time to move on, but in separate ways, without each other...
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