"'It's what we have. Love.'
My eyes start to burn and itch and sting. I swallow hard and take a deep breath to keep the tears at bay. Pretty words. Lovely to hear, comforting to feel. Coming from the person I've loved and hated and loved again all these years. how beautiful it would be to just fall back into your arms and continue what we have like nothing's horribly wrong in our relationship.
'I can't do this anymore,' I whisper. Tears start to form in the corners of my eyes. 'The damage is already beyond repair. We have to end this to save ourselves.'
I take a deep, shaky breath and blink back tears. Without another word, without waiting for you to say anything, without looking into your eyes, I gather my things and go out into the night. I walk and walk until I reach the end of the street. I have to keep walking as far away from you as possible.
I breathe in the night's air. It felt a lot warmer in my chest. For the first time in a long time, I feel free."