Page 46 of Unbreak My Heart

After seeing my old man, I went to retrieve the few belongings I had stashed away in a secret place, hoping Cammy would allow me to stay with him. I’m ready to do my best, to get a job and make him happy. I just need a second chance to prove I can make it—to him and to myself.

I need to not fuck up again. I need life to give me a break.

I hope Cammy won’t be too upset with me for taking his keys, but I didn’t want to wake him up if he was still sleeping. After everything last night, I’d worn him out, but I wanted to make sure he knew how much he meant to me.

I bought flowers, and now I’m queuing to buy breakfast. I loved our date last night with candles and burgers, but today I want to give him something. I want to care for him. It’s a small gesture, but he deserves it. He deserves even more, but this is all I can do right now. I’m sure he’ll be happy, and I can’t wait to see his beautiful face sparkling with joy.

I glance at the clock on the wall above the server’s head, and curse under my breath. It’s later than I wanted, and I don’t want Cameron to be alone for too long.

I’m so delighted when my order is ready that I give the barista a big smile with my cash. He seems surprised, but I don’t have time to waste, so I hurry back home.

Home. A word I thought was lost to me forever.

I walk quickly, and hasten my pace when Cammy’s building comes into view. I can’t believe I’m here with him and that we’re going to be together. Forever, if I have it my way.

I tap my foot, wishing for the lift to go faster, so I can enjoy Cameron’s smile and his pleased face when he sees what I brought him.

I insert the key into the lock and turn it slowly to avoid making too much noise in case he’s still sleeping.

What I find behind the closed door is not what I was expecting, or what I wanted. Two angry faces reminding me of people I know, and the crying face of the most important person in the world to me. I rush to get to him, but my way is blocked by the other two people in the room, and I finally recognise them.

“Mel and Becky.” Seeing them brings so many good memories, and it’ll be good spending time reminiscing with them, but I need to get to Cameron.

“Cammy?” I say, while trying to look at him in between the wall they’re making in front of me. My heart crashes at my feet in desperation and worry when he doesn’t even acknowledge me.

What the fuck happened?

“Cammy?” The desperation I’m feeling is clear in my voice.

“You left me. Again.”

No! I did not.

“Cammy, I’m here. I didn’t leave you. I would never do that to you.” Something in my words moves the wall in front of me, and I can finally reach for Cameron.

“Love,” I say, once I’m kneeling in front of him, but he refuses to look at me.

I circle his shaking body with my arms and pull him against me. That’s when it hits me what I did to him by leaving the house without waking him up. What not finding me there next to him made Cammy relive. In my attempt to bring closure to my past and begin my future with Cameron, I forgot what he’d be thinking if he didn’t find me there. His next words confirm my fears.

“You left me.”

I did.

“I was—“

“You fucking left me. Again,” he says, struggling in my grip.

“I did, but I didn’t.” It may be confusing and not make sense, but it’s true.

“What does that even mean?”

I want to scream in relief, because even if he’s upset, he’s still willing to listen to me. I take it as though not everything is lost, and I can try to make it better. Again.

I’m sure this is the only chance I’ll get, and it’s the only one I need. I won’t be making the same mistake a third time.

“I was so happy this morning. You made me happy, not only last night, but since we met again. You gave me my life back. You gave me a home.” I lean closer, but I don’t kiss him on his cheek because I don’t want him to pull away. He lets me pull him closer, but he stays stubbornly silent.

“When I woke up this morning and saw you there next to me, I couldn’t believe how lucky I was that you were the one who found me. But mostly because, even after everything I did, everything I put you through, you were giving me another chance. A chance to have the life I always wanted.”

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