Page 33 of Forever Writing You

“I really hope I passed my Statistics exam,” she says. “I struggled with all the historical data questions.”

Okay, definitely that.

“Here.” I decide to change the subject, handing her my promotion folder. “Read this.”

She doesn’t take it; she stares at it, and then lets out a slow, unsteady breath.

“I can’t be with you anymore.”

“What?”

“I want you to be happy.”

“I am happy.”

“For the long-term.”

“Since when I am not your endgame?”

“Since this morning.”

Silence.

“Dahlia, what the fuck is wrong with you?” I’m tempted to drive her to the E.R. and have her head examined. “You were fine last night and when I talked to you this morning. What’s changed?”

“Please don’t try to talk me into staying with you.” Her tone is colder than I’ve ever heard it. “We can’t be together anymore.”

“So, you’re cheating on me?” I clenched my jaw. “How long and who the fuck is he?”

“I would never cheat on you, Everett. Ever.”

“Then what the fuck is wrong with you?”

The entire restaurant falls silent. Dahlia’s cheeks redden, and she stands to her feet.

“Please don’t make this harder than it already is.” Her voice cracks. “Please. Stay.” She starts to walk away, but I follow her outside.

“I’m not a goddamn dog.” I grab her elbow and spin her around to face me. “I’ve been with you through fucking everything—good, bad, tragic, and the least you can do is tell me what you’ve done that […] means we have to be over.”

“I love you enough to let you go.”

“Dahlia…”

“Fine. There’s someone else.”

"No, I don't believe you," I say, shaking my head back and forth. "Tell me the truth."

She stands there with tears in her eyes before releasing a heavy breath.

"It is the truth, Everett. I’ve been bored of our routine. I felt like I was starting to go crazy, so I went to Nashville, and I ended up meeting someone. It wasn't on purpose.”

“You’re lying.”

“We had an instant connection. I'm sorry that I hurt you, but that’s why I'm telling you now. We would have broken up eventually…”

Her words hang in the air for several seconds before settling against me and stabbing pieces of my heart.

I can’t think of shit to say. “Thank you for telling me.”

---