He Didn't Love Me Until I Left Novels & Stories

He professed love even as he hollowed out my power at the company and sabotaged my ties with my family. When there was nothing left to take, he stopped pretending and told me the truth. He even said he had never loved me. That was really hurtful. When I remembered the coldness in Dan’s eyes, a dull ache spread through my chest. When my thoughts cleared, I was already in the car with him. Judging by the direction we were heading, it could only be the crematorium. I did not think he would bother to see me at all. By the time we arrived, the process had already begun.

Or something close to hurt. But then he blinked, and it was gone. “I think that’s a great decision,” he said coolly. And with that, he turned and shut the door behind him. I sank back into the chair, every ounce of strength draining from my body. But alongside the ache, there was something else. Something quieter. Relief. Acceptance. Some things in life can be earned with time and effort. Love isn’t one of them. And maybe leaving is the only real kindness left.

Someone who never even wanted to love me. “I never took it because The Others told me to leave it right where it was until the right time. It just so happened they didn’t need it until now. They only reached back out to me recently, within the last month. I had forgotten all about them after all these years… And honestly, I did fall in love with you. I am still in love with you.” She said and burst out into tears again.

he asked. "No it's not. That couldn't be farther away from the truth. Love was never the problem. I always loved you and even when I left I never stopped loving you. I didn't leave because I didn't love you, Eric I loved you to death, I left because things were moving too fast and I got scared."

Silence stretches between us. Then I turn toward Malik’s room. “I’m going to see my son.” “Sophia.” I stop. But I don’t turn around. “I hope one day you understand that I didn’t leave because I stopped loving you.” My voice is barely above a whisper. “I left because I finally realized loving you was making me lose myself.”

Mom continued smiling even as her tears splattered on the photo frame. I gently hooked my finger around her trembling pinky finger that was suspended in midair. "I promise you, Mom. I'll definitely find you again in my next life," I thought to myself. Dad walked over to Mom's side and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "Ash," he said hoarsely. "I'm sorry. I let my anger get the better of me that day. I never wanted to send you back to the orphanage. You'll always be my son."

"Then what do you want?" "I want to go back. To before. To the night you left. I want to stop you from walking out that door." He faces me. "I want to tell you I love you. I want to tell you I don't care about the article. I want to tell you that none of it matters as long as you stay." "But I didn't stay." "No. You left. And I let you." His voice cracks. "I've been letting people leave my whole life. My mother. My friends. You. Everyone leaves."

I truly didn't love him anymore. Adrian wanted to say more, but I didn't wait for him. I cut him off flatly. “Time's up. You should go. It was only after I left you that I learned what real living is, so please, don't disturb the person I am now.” With that, I turned and walked away without a trace of regret. I'd thought that if I refused him firmly enough, Adrian would take the hint and stop bothering me. But I'd underestimated how stubborn he was.

“He was the one who wasn’t enough. Not you.” I couldn’t believe these words were coming from her. “I made my peace with you years ago, child. I just never said it. He didn’t deserve you then, and he certainly doesn’t now.” She took another drag. “You have strength. Use this money. Build something for yourself. It’s not too late to start.” A bus rumbled into the bay, its doors hissing open. I looked at her one last time, then at the check in my hand. I turned and walked into the shadowy interior of the bus.

When his company and his touch made me crave him more and more each day. And now... I loved every minute of what happened earlier in the evening, feeling like we were one again, like there was nothing wrong. And yet, nothing was the same. We've changed. I've changed. Three months ago, I left him. Everything we built together had come to an abrupt end. I love him. But I can't forget what he'd done. And yet, after I left him, he sat by my side for days on end until I woke up in the hospital. He loves me, endlessly, unconditionally which is a love I've never had before.