He’s crying. I’ve never seen him cry in ten years. And now he’s crying right in front of me.
“Steve, I...” I cup his face in my hands, trying to wipe the tears off his cheeks.
“Do you want me to do it?” he whispers, brushing a strand of hair from my face.
“I love you, Steve... I’m so sorry,” I murmur, hugging him tightly.
He hides his face in the crook of my neck. “You love me and I love you, Nova, but it’s always been him. It’s just... we’re not meant to be together. Maybe we were...”
“We were better as friends,” I finish his sentence for him, and he nods.
“You want me to do it?” he asks again.
“I’m so, so sorry.”
He only nods, stroking my back gently, like he always has.
He’s taken care of my heart all these years. He’s kept it warm, patched it up, given it all the love he could, cared for it like a father. And now... Now he’s letting me go, allowing me to fall into someone else’s arms after taking care of my heart all this time. Maybe I needed him far more than he ever needed me.
“Nova... I think we should break up,” he whispers, and the pain in his voice cuts into my chest like a blade. “I tried to fight for us. I really did, but it wasn’t enough, and it’ll never be enough as long as his name lives in your heart.”
“I should’ve been the one brave enough to do this,” I whisper when he gently pulls away. “I didn’t even have the guts to tell you the truth, you had to drag it out of me. I... I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay, Nova. I promise.”
“He has nothing to do with this, Steve. It’s all my fault.”
Steven rises from the floor, offering me his hand. He helps me up, then grabs his backpack from the floor before heading for the door.
“Whose fault it is doesn’t matter right now. We both share the blame in this. It’s okay. I’m not angry at him. I could never be. And I’m not angry at you either. I just... I need some time. That’s all.”
I start to say something, but close my mouth. I don’t even know what words could make him feel better, and he’s probably holding back from getting angry and saying things he doesn’t mean.
Anything I could say right now would only hurt him. I want to hug him, but it would be wrong.
“So... I’ll see you around?” he asks, opening the door.
I nod. “I’ll see you around...”
He nods too and steps out of my room. I sit on the bed, unable to move or speak, but then I get up and follow him out. I can’t let him leave without apologizing properly.
But when I reach the living room, I see Steven frozen in place.
I follow his gaze—and what I see feels like a chainsaw tearing me into a thousand pieces.
It’s Fleur. On the floor.
My little dog whimpers in pain, and I rush to her, collapsing on the ground. I cradle her in my arms, rocking her gently, desperately hoping to ease her pain, but nothing helps. Her breathing is shallow, labored.
“Fleur... Princess... No, sweetheart. No. Please. No...”
Steven kneels beside me and presses on her chest, trying to help her breathe, but it changes nothing.
“The hospital! Call someone! Please!” I scream in despair.
I rise with Fleur in my arms, running around looking for my shoes, for my phone, for anything. I have to get out. I have to save her.
Steven gets up while I pace the house in panic. I can’t find my shoes. I can’t hear Fleur’s whimpers anymore, or her labored breaths.
