“I was just trying to be what you wanted.”

Jason’s hair whipped across his face, while dead leaves swirled past his feet. They sat on the park bench, holding slowly cooling coffees, avoiding each other. Across the way, a dog chased a ball. Children played as his world ended.

“You don’t understand me, then.” Her voice was frustrated, tired. She spoke quickly - the words burned her tongue. “I needed you to be… you.” She paused, turned to him. “Not whatever this is.”

She stood, and the wind seemed to get faster. Jason’s hands shook as he fumbled with the zipper on his coat. Noticed a ladybug on the bench. Does she get cold from the wind too?

“Jason. Do you know what I’m saying? Do you hear me?” She squinted at him, her mouth a fine line, teeth gritting against the cold. She shifted on her feet.

“I was just trying to be what you wanted. Was that not enough?”

She turned on her heals and walked away, grabbing her scarf to keep it from flying away. Jason stood too, but he didn’t chase. He watched as she threw her cup in the garbage, said hello to a passing dog. Eventually, she was gone. The wind slowed as Jason walked home, but slammed the door shut once he passed through. His coat, his scarf, his shoes fell, discarded, on the floor. The stairs creaked and the windows rattled.

Jason wept.