Glimpse of Tom- One Shot compilation

I Can't

A/N: This was the first piece I wrote of Tom in 2019, it is loosely based on the song Three Empty Words by Shawn Mendes. Back then I posted it on Tumblr and it did decently well. I'm posting it here now because I still absolutely love the way this pulls on each and every one of my heart strings. It hurts too good to be honest, and I really hope you like it as much as I do.

Warnings: This contains mentions of cheating, and it's very sad.

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How long has it been since they stopped loving each other? Audrey honestly couldn't tell. Maybe a couple weeks, maybe a few days, maybe even months, who knows? It all happened as gradually as they fell in love. She has been in a relationship with Tom for almost 3 years, and it had been great, but they got lost somewhere and they can't pinpoint where.

It all had happened really fast at the beginning: they met, they went on a date, they fell for each other, and within six months of dating she moved in with him to his house and it all felt so right, Audrey loved him, and Tom loved her. He supported her every move and she supported his. They were great to each other, loving and respectful towards the other, everyone said they were meant to be together, and maybe it was true back then, but now... not so sure.

Now Audrey can't remember the last time they actually talked to each other, other than "did you take out the trash?" "When do we have to pay the light bill?" "I'm off to work" and stuff like that, they never even cross a word; they didn't even say "good morning" anymore, not to mention the four letter word that they used to yell to each other at every given moment... now it's really hard for her to even call him by his name.

Tom had always been cuddly, he always made Audrey was snuggled onto him when they went to bed, he even had to make sure they were on good terms after a fight so he could cuddle with her at night. But now they still sleep in the same bed, but their backs are always facing each other, and he stays in his side of the bed and she stay on hers, a whole third person could fit in the space they leave between their bodies, who know when was the last time they actually had sex, they don't even want each other anymore.

That afternoon when Audrey came back from work, she found it odd that Tom's car was parked in front of the house, but she didn't say anything, instead she just walked in the house only to find a strange looking purse in the coffee table, along with Tom's jacket. Confused but not thinking or saying anything yet, she went upstairs, she hadn't reach the top half of them when she heard a girl moaning her boyfriend's name, she still remained calm and collected, she couldn't even feel angry or mad, if anything, she felt relieved that she now had a good excuse, so she went back downstairs as quietly as possible so they wouldn't hear her, she took a piece of paper and a pen and left a note right beside the purse that read:

"Tom, text me when she leaves, please.

-Audrey"

Audrey went out to the nearest coffee shop and waited for Tom's text, in the meantime she called her best friend and told her she had broken up with Tom, but she didn't tell her he cheated, she frankly didn't want to make fuss about the whole situation, she just asked her to help her pack and to let her stay with her while she looks for a new place for herself. Tom's text arrived about half an hour later, a simple "Hey" appeared on the screen, she did open it but didn't reply, instead she drove back to the house.

When Audrey opened the door Tom was sitting in the couch, the note still in his hands, she wordlessly sat in the opposite end of it and looked at him for a second before speaking,

"You should know better than to bring a girl home when I think you're working and you know I'm gonna be home early." She said calmly, a hint of amusement in her voice, she was trying to make this as easy as it could be.

"Yeah, I guess you're right. Listen..." he didn't say the full sentence, he went completely silent as if looking for the words he needed.

"Tom, I know, it's okay. I'm honestly not surprised you had to do this, a little disappointed, yes, but I'd be lying if I said I hadn't consider doing the same. I get it" he looked down at his hands, but Audrey's eyes stayed fixed on his face. "How long has this been going on for?" She suddenly asked, it even surprised her because she definitely didn't mean to ask that.

"A week or so, but it's nothing, it means nothing to me, it's just sex and nothing more."

"You don't need to explain yourself, I know we haven't been okay for a while." he was looking at her now, his face was a sad, she could tell he was sorry, and she was sorry too.

"We can work it out." Tom's voice came as a whisper, and Audrey's lip curled a little, because even after all of this, he didn't want to hurt her.

"Look me in the eyes and tell me you love me." She told him directly, he was taken aback, but he kept his eyes fixed on hers, he opened his mouth, but nothing came out, his eyes fell to look at his hands again and she saw his eyes getting glassy with tears.

"I- I can't." he simply stated before a single tear fell to the couch.

"Me neither, Tom" Audrey said and he looked up at her, with his eyes still full of tears, she offered him a sympathetic smile and he offered her one back.

They stayed silent for a couple minutes, the only audible thing were the little sobs the two of them would let out, both of them crying, not much because it hurt to break up, but because it hurt that it didn't work out.

After they both calmed down and stopped crying Audrey got up from the couch and sighed "Andy is on her way to help me pack, I'll stay with her until I find a place for myself." She packed silently, Tom even helped her at some point. She was almost done when her friend arrived since she didn't have much to take, just clothes and some books, everything else, she felt, belonged in the house, belonged to Tom.

She put her stuff in the trunk of her car and looked at Tom standing by the house door, he offered a lip tight smile, Audrey smiled back at him and got in the car and just drove away.