Five years.

It was five years since Bree worked the courage to ask Taylor out — to which the latter agreed. And she had been so, so ecstatic. She must have gone over the dinner plan a hundred times in her head, smoothing out any possible kinks. Of course, fate was cruel, and the date was far from perfect. However, Taylor seemed to enjoy it nonetheless and had called Bree the next day to ask if she was interested in going on a stroll to enjoy the fresh air. One thing led to the next, and soon enough, they were an official couple. A happy one, too.

But two years in, Taylor started changing. Or maybe Bree was too much in love to notice the change earlier.

It was little things at first. A comment when a dress showed too much cleavage. A grunt when a friend hugged her a tad too long. At first, Bree found it enduring. It was as if she found a real-life partner plucked straight from all the popular shows she loved watching.

But the charm didn’t last for long. Soon afterward, Taylor refused to let her wear anything but bland, modest clothing. Moreover, Bree wasn’t allowed to talk to her friends without Taylor keeping an eye on her. The constant supervision unnerved her, but the young woman had told herself that it was perfectly normal.

Normal…

Bree smiled bitterly, staring at an old photo on her phone. Taylor had one arm slung over her shoulder. The two of them were facing each other rather than the camera, eyes filled with adoration. Taylor loved her once — she truly believed that. But somewhere along the lines, the love became twisted and became an obsession.

And unfortunately, this wasn’t a story. Bree couldn’t simply heal Taylor with love. The only person who could save Taylor… was Taylor.

She wiped away her tears, drawing in a shuddering breath. She could not lose her cool now. Though Bree still loved Taylor, she was no longer in love. It was far past the time to leave the person she thought was her forever.

“What the fuck is going on?”

Bree involuntarily tensed when she heard Taylor’s growl. Part of her had hoped that she could have escaped quietly without a scene. But another part of her was glad she finally had the chance to confront her abuser.

While her former partner never laid a hand on her, they had attempted to control her every movement. Moreover, Taylor had voiced on multiple occasions that Bree was unfaithful to him. The comment had wounded her deeply each time. She was not a cheater, and she was hurt that Taylor had thought so lowly of her.

Trying to steady her racing heart, she turned around and lifted up her chin. This time, she will not back down. She was done being afraid. Clearing the lump lodged in her throat, Bree met a pair of furious blue eyes. Oh, how loving it has once been! But that was in the past. Though her voice trembled, she forced the words out. “I’m… I’m l-leaving you, Tay. Forever.” No longer shall I be bounded in chains by your words, she added to herself.

The anger in the dark eyes changed to astonishment for a brief second. But just as quickly, it turned to an icy coldness. “Leaving me?” Taylor echoed scornfully. “You? As if. You know you are nothing without me.”

Bree flinched at the cruel words. “I—” she started before cutting herself off. She owed Taylor no explanation. Straightening her shoulders, she marched out of the room in determined strides, only pausing to grab her suitcase. “You’re wrong, Tay,” she called over her shoulder. “I was nothing with you.”

Her progress was halted as Taylor grabbed her wrist roughly. “What the hell, Bree? You’re leaving me just like that?” Their features twisted into something terrifying. “Who you been seeing behind my back? Ivy? Wilson? Nicole?” The grip on the wrist tightened. “Have I not been good enough to you? I gave you everything you could have possibly wanted, and this is how you return the favor?”

“I told you,” Bree snapped as she jerked her arms free, “they’re just my fri— acquaintance. Nothing more.” Though they might have been friends once, Bree had burned every bridge to be with Taylor. She had convinced herself that she didn’t need any of them to interfere with her life. She stared at Taylor, willing herself not to cower. “I loved you, Taylor,” she whispered. “But you changed to a monster.”

She took a step back, eyes never leaving her former lover. It would be painful to start afresh, but Bree knew she had to do it. No more will she follow the shell of the person she loved. No more will she allow herself to be tormented by Taylor’s words.

And though this may be the ending of a life she knew, Bree was looking forward to a new beginning.