He Thought I Was Finally Learning I Was Already Leaving Novels & Stories

I stayed frozen at the edge of the stairs. Why did those words make me sad? Those were the words I’d been waiting weeks to hear, but now that I’d heard them, they didn’t bring any ounce of joy. Didn’t I want to leave anymore because he was back? “Finally,” I said lazily, making my way up the stairs. His eyes followed me as I walked. I glanced at him for a second and quickly turned away.

Not searching for words, more like deciding whether to use the ones he already had. “It’s because you are,” he said simply. “Beautiful. I said it because it’s true and I’m not very good at thinking one thing and saying another.” He picked up his jacket from where it hung on his arm. “That’s all it was.” Then he left. No elaboration, no lingering, just through the door and gone, taking the strange warm weight of the moment with him. I stood alone in the training room for a few seconds. Then I pressed the back of my hand against my cheek, which was warmer than it should have been, and told myself it meant nothing.

“Thank you for having me.” He started to say something else. He stopped. I got out. I stood on the pavement and listened to the car pull away without looking back. Then I went upstairs and sat on the edge of my bed and held the weight of an almost that had been the closest yet. And thought about the sentence he hadn’t finished. And thought about the fact that I already knew what it was going to say. And thought about how much longer we were both going to wait before someone said it out loud. Not long, I thought. Not long now.

Tomorrow I would leave. But before I did… One final move had already been set in motion. And when it unfolded… There would be no turning back.

I searched myself. “I am sorry for hurting you.” “But not for wanting him.” No. I could not lie anymore. He stood up slowly. “So that’s it.” I felt tears sting my eyes. “I never meant for it to happen like this.” “It always happens like this.” His voice was tired now. Resigned. “You’re leaving.” It was not a question anymore. And this time, I did not hesitate. “Yes.” The word felt terrifying. And freeing.

I had once again overestimated myself, and he looked horrified. “I’m very sorry,” he said hurriedly. “I never meant that at all.” But I was already on my feet, swaying from the sudden hazy feeling of the whiskey hitting me harder than I expected, the room tilting gently beneath me. "I knew it," I heard myself say. The words came out before I could stop them. "I knew it. I always know, I just never learn." "Eve…"

He turned and walked toward the car, leaving me standing in the dust of my old life, shivering despite the morning sun. I’d said it. I’d finally said the word that could end us both. *****

I could аlrеаdу fееl myself stirring, a few moments more and I’d be gоnе соmрlеtеlу. “I thіnk wе better hаd.” Jоеl blеw оut, рuѕhіng himself оff mе. Leaving me tо wonder whаt tоnіght hаd іn ѕtоrе.

I mutter in a straight tone. His eyes become blank with emotion. I tried to read what's on his mind, I wanted to know is he's taunting me secretly or perhaps making fun of me on the back of his head because of my foolishness but I failed to know. He's difficult to read. I took a deep breath and shake my head. I should leave. I should not drag him to my mess. "I am leaving-" "You still have me," he suddenly speak that made me stop. "I am still here,Little. I am still here where you left me and I am just waiting for you to come back"

Instead, I would leave without a word, trusting that someday she would learn that I had gone. With a heavy heart but a mind set on reclaiming my own happiness, I prepared for my journey the next day. At dawn, before the palace awoke fully to its routine, I gathered my few belongings and slipped out. I walked away with a mix of sorrow and relief, knowing that I was finally taking a step for myself—even if it meant leaving behind the one person I cared for most.