Chapter 12
Cells didn’t leave
Instead, he bought the apartment right across from mine and moved in
Then he started showing up at my campus. Every. Single Day.
For six months, he cling to me like his entire life depended on it, like he had all the time in the world to wear me down.
Sometimes, when I’d had enough, I’d snap.
*Felix, quit the performance. Your tragic love story has expired.”
His eyes would instantly go red. “Lydia, please… don’t treat me like this.”
*1 was stupid – I never should’ve said those things. I never should’ve planned to humiliate you at the wedding. That was was pride and pettiness pretending to be strength.”
“I know I messed up. I’m sorry. Hove you. Please don’t give up on me.”
love, that
No spark. No pity. Not even anger.
Just silence
And if I thought things couldn’t get more ridiculous, Damon showed up.
He somehow found out where Felix was and came knocking too.
On Christmas Day, no less, both of them asked me to spend the holiday with them.
So I said yes
I figured I might as well get it all over with at once.
Fehr rented out the whole restaurant. When I walked in, the place was filled wall to wall with roses.
He looked primarly happy—until he saw Damon walk in behind me, All the color drained from his face.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Felix barked
Damon Amirked. “She invited me ”
bet any parse on ther table and nudded toward the seats. “Both of you. Sit.”
Ladies man
Trassed a band. “Let’s just be adulta dos unor and lay everything out. We’ve known each other for eighteen years. We’re thirty now. Isn’t
atloose tartar wie stapped playing tersinge games?”
I cursed to Danum first” work you were a light in my darkest hour. Maybe I thought I loved you. But I think I just loves hus sate
how
when I
you we gave the thing alan turn And was finally let go, I didn’t break I grew The girl who used to orbit your world?
kated with You’re the fact that stopped needing you
*
povt grudipe mualdi, Barbut. So walk away 101 belettes for both of
(in atimane for a long beat. Hamı be left without a wordi
Ja he walked away, I didn’t feel squat or broilum Likur i on
For a brief second, I saw my twelve–year–old self–scared, bruised, hiding in a bathroom stall.
But this time, I wasn’t rescued.
This time, I saved myself.
It took me a while to get here. But I made it. And that’s what matters.
“Lydia… I know you loved me. I know it was real.”
Felix’s voice was cracked and strained, like he already knew what I was about to say.
And yes, what I felt for Felix… It was complicated.
“I did love you,” I said quietly. “And being with you–for those five years–was real. The highs, the lows. The joy, the heartbreak. It was all part of my story.”
“But when you lashed out, when you said those things about using me to get back at Damon… that was the moment you destroyed it.”
“I stayed by your side, even when it hurt. I let you pretend it was love, even when I suspected it was pride. And when I found out the truth–I played along. I gave you your fantasy. Then I ended it on my terms.”
Lydia, stop,” he begged, voice thick. “You want me to let go after eighteen years? How?”
Tears spilled down his cheeks. “Just tell me what I need to do. Please–tell me how to make this right.”
I let out a long breath. “We’ve been stuck in this triangle for too long. No one’s come out of it happy.”
“And you know what it feels like, Felix? It feels like that wedding dress.”
“The one we had made. Ripped. Torn Unfixable. And the replacement? Didn’t fit.”
“That’s us. You and me. A story that doesn’t fit anymore.”
H
I stood up slowly. “Don’t come looking for me again. Whatever love you think we had
“Lcan’t carry it for you.
“I’m not coming back.”
He clutched at his hair in agony. “So that’s it? All this time–and there’s not even one more chance?”
I didn’t answer.
I just turned and walked away.
That was my answer.
Yes, I might miss what we had sometimes. But I wouldn’t regret letting it go.
When I closed the door behind me, Felix was still standing there–frozen.
But I didn’t look back
Because I knew it was over.
And finally… I was free to chase something greater.
Chapter 12
