“I knew I’d regret it if I didn't say it right now.”

“I can't. You know I can't…”

“Because you promised?” I yell hysterically. We'd been over this many times, and I respected him for it, but I could not keep going back and forth.

So I tell him, “This needs to end, Finn.”

I feel tears leaking from my eyes, falling down my cheeks as he says the words that I had feared for weeks. But as he says them, I also feel an eerie sense of relief, peace even. Finn lets go of my hand, and steps back cautiously, gauging my reaction.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Adeline. I wish…” Finn tells me. I close my eyes, unable to see his face anymore.

“Yeah… me too. Just don't… don't look back, okay?”

He’s standing there, hurt and confused by my words. I knew that he would always look back. Always regret everything. But not me.

“Addie…” he whispers, his hand reaching out to me, but I could not let myself fall again. Not like last time. Not into those arms. He made his decision, and I made mine.

“You were right, Finn,” I tell him, gaining a small bit of confidence.

“What?” asks Finn, completely bewildered.

“It would've never worked. Between us, I mean. You were just the first to realize it.”

“Adeline… no. It's… no. Please,” begs Finn.

“We’d still be here, regardless, Finn, and you know that.”

“Just give me time.”

“He will _never_ leave.”

“I know…”

“Exactly,” I say, tears blurring my vision.

“So what, that's it?”

“That’s what you said, so yes. Goodbye, Finn,” I tell him firmly. Then there’s an eerie silence. I find myself walking forward, to meet Finn once more. With hands shaking, I grab his hands and look him in the eyes.

“Finn… I always loved you. I will always care for you, in a way…”

“Don't do this,” begs Finn. I realize that the only way to end this, to make this more than a bunch of words, is to hurt him, in the way he hurt me. The only way to finish this, is to tell him,

“You already did.”