Her fingers twist around her phone.
"I sent him a Happy Thanksgiving text. I knew he wouldn't respond. He never does."
She lets out this laugh that doesn't sound anything like her — empty, tired.
"He doesn't even open them. But... I sent it anyway. Just in case he checks."
"Sam, when are you going to stop throwing your heart at someone who's given you zero—absolutelyzero—reason to believe he wants it? When are you gonna stop chasing him?"
I try to keep my voice steady, to keep the frustration out, but it bleeds through anyway.
"You're bleeding yourself dry for someone who doesn't even see you're hurting."
Something in me twists — anger, helplessness, all of it burning hot.
"And I hate it. I hate watching you keep trying, keep breaking. You've been getting... dimmer lately. Quieter. Sadder. I don't like seeing you like this, angel."
She stares out into the yard, quiet for a long time.
Then, so soft I almost miss it—"...I'm starting to let him go."
I stare at her, stunned.
No. Shocked doesn't cover it.
This feels like someone slapped the wind out of me.
Every time I've asked her this question, she's always answered with the same ridiculous certainty:
'Forever, if I have to. Until Elijah loves me back.'
Ten years of the same answer.
Ten years of her chasing him.
And now...
She laughs under her breath when she sees my expression. But there's no humor—just... emptiness.
"I know, right? Sounds insane coming from me. I've been in love with him for ten years." Her voice cracks so softly it guts me. "I don't even know how I'm supposed to do that. But I will. This time... I will. This time I mean it."
Something tightens in my chest.
A strange, unnerving pressure.
I don't know what it is exactly—relief? worry? dread?
Some messy, tangled mix that scares the hell out of me.
"It's about time," she whispers—soft, quiet, breaking. "Time to end my ten-year, one-sided love affair with Elijah Deveraux."
Her voice wavers.
The sadness in it is almost unbearable.
Like every word costs her something.
She turns to me, eyes glossy. "You'll be right behind me... right?"
