LOGINRYANMy heart leaped so hard I thought it would tear out of my chest.She came back.Joy slammed into me so fast I almost got dizzy. Oh God… when I had lost hope, when I thought she meant every last word, when I thought she didn’t care about what we shared at the beach… she came back.I wiped my face immediately, aggressively, using both palms to clear the tears away. I dragged my sleeve across my cheeks, making sure not a drop was left. Then I stood from the floor so fast I nearly fell again. I smoothed my clothes, straightened my shirt, fixed the collar, pushed my hair back, inhaled deeply.My smiling uncle stared at me like I had just resurrected. “Oh,” he said, clapping slowly with the widest grin, “so he can smile now? Fantastic. This is good. This is VERY good.”I ignored him. My chest was too full, because she he came back for me.I stepped quickly toward the window with excitement pulsing through my veins. I needed to see her. Just one glimpse. Just…My eyes reached the window
OLIVIAI drove straight to the hotel.My hands were still a little shaky on the steering, but I kept going.One turn after another, one breath after another, until I finally pulled into the parking lot.I walked into my room and began packing the last of my things- my folded dresses, my skincare bag, the little notebook I kept under the pillow. I zipped the suitcase slowly and let my hands rest on it for a moment.I took a deep, steadying breath. “This is it,” I whispered to myself. I turned toward the door, and nearly screamed when I saw someone standing inside my room.My heart flew out of my chest.“What the…??” I yelled, clutching my chest. “WHAT THE FUCK?!”Daisy stood there. Her arms crossed, lip gloss shining. Smiling like she was posing for a magazine cover.“What are you doing here?” I demanded, still holding my chest. “Are you mad?! You scared the hell out of me!”She shrugged casually. “Oh relax. I knocked twice. You didn’t answer. So I let myself in.”“You LET YOURSELF IN
OLIVIAI turned toward the door.My fingers were already curling around the handle when I felt a hand closing around my wrist. “Olivia…” Ryan whispered behind me, his voice breaking. “Please. Don’t go yet. Please.”I shut my eyes for three seconds, because if I looked at him while he held me like that, I knew something inside me might soften. And I couldn’t afford that now.I gently pulled my wrist out of his grip. “Ryan…” I said softly, finally turning to face him.His eyes were red, wet and shining. “I meant what I said,” I whispered. “I’m leaving.”His shoulders fell, like the words cut the last string holding him upright. “And… I’m leaving the country today.”His eyes widened instantly. His mouth parted, breath trembling. “Leaving the… Olivia, no. No, please, please…”Before he could reach for me again, I stepped closer on my own.His breath halted. Then I did something neither of us expected.I leaned in… and wrapped my arms lightly around him. His entire body froze in disbelief
OLIVIAI wasn’t cut out for this.This whole scene, this whole emotional circus he was trying to pull me into… I didn’t want it. I didn’t care what Ryan thought he suddenly needed to say. I wasn’t here for apologies or second chances.I was here to leave. To end this mess once and for all.I kept repeating it in my head as I followed him down the hallway. Olivia, you’re leaving today. Don’t lose focus. Don’t soften. Don’t break.But the moment we stepped into his room my stupid heart decided to betray me again.Because he looked… good. So fucking fine.This was my first time seeing him fully dressed, standing tall on both legs. No wheelchair. No blanket over his knees.A black shirt hugging his shoulders. Baggy trousers hanging effortlessly on his waist. His hair slightly messy, and he smelled so good. Olivia, get yourself together, please. You’re not here to admire him. You’re here to leave him.I straightened my spine, forcing my face back into a neutral cold expression. I opened m
RYANI shot to my feet so fast the room swayed around me. My legs felt unsteady, weak, like they didn’t believe what my ears were telling me. My heart hammered against my ribs so hard and for a second I genuinely thought I might pass out.I took one step forward… and immediately stumbled back onto the cushion.My uncle burst out laughing. “Oh, wow,” he said between breaths, shaking his head as he looked at me. “Ryan, look at you. Look at you!” He pointed at me like I was some circus show. “Who would’ve ever thought I’d see the day you’d be this terrified over a woman?”I glared at him, but my heart was beating too violently for me to form words yet.He continued anyway, enjoying himself way too much. “You, Ryan. You, of all people, begging for a woman to stay, shaking like a leaf, falling on cushions, refusing divorce papers? Ah. This is truly a miracle.”I clenched my jaw hard, forcing myself to breathe in, breathe out.I pushed myself up again, slower this time, gripping the arm of
RYANI was finished.Completely, utterly destabilised.The whole night passed, hour after hour slipping by, and I didn’t move. I didn’t lie down, didn’t change clothes, didn’t even blink properly. I just sat there on the same damn couch in my room, elbows on my knees, staring at nothing.Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her walking away. Every time I breathed, I tasted the fear of losing her. Every time I shifted, pain shot through me.It was morning now. The sun had already brightened the room and I was still right there, sitting on the cushion. I hadn’t even touched the bed. I didn’t want comfort… I just needed her.My fists kept clenching and unclenching on their own and I kept checking the door, looking towards it.Any small sound outside the hallway made my heart jump, thinking and hoping it was her.My eyes burned; my throat felt tight; my breath kept catching every few seconds. I hadn’t stepped out of the room since last night, because I didn’t want anyone to see me like thi







