“I love you,” he whispered.

A gentle breeze.

What?

Charlie gawked at the boy in utter denial. There was no way he was doing this now. The car behind her honked impatiently but she couldn’t move. She breathed deeply, breath shaky as the built in pressure under her eyelids and heart held her down. It was hard to breathe and impossible to move. Her eyes brimmed with refusing tears as the agony continued marking its territory, coursing throughout her body.

“No. No..don’t say that..” she cried, “Stan please.” Her limbs shook as she clenched her arms around the suitcase in her hold. Doubling over as if to balance the painful weight between the suitcase and her heart, the tears began to fall freely to the ground under them.

How could he do this now?

“I love you,” he repeated above her, in a monotone voice.

“Stan please stop…” Sobs racked her body, her knees threatening to buckle. The pain was unbearable. How could he?

“I love you.”

After everything. She had wanted him, she had begged him and now that she was leaving he had the audacity to say this? How could he? Did he have any idea how painful he was making this for her?

She startled at the sudden feel of hands wrapping around her and despite the uncomfortable position, she had never in her life felt like she belonged anywhere else. Because now here in his arms, despite it being goodbye, Charlie was home.