𝙸𝚗𝚎𝚏𝚏𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎| ✔︎

32 | Aiden

'I love you'. Those words echo in the hollow of my head as a broken record.

I would do anything to go back to her and tell her that I love her back. Instead, my body decided to shut down. My hands were clammy, and my heart was racing.

I don't think anything has ever hurt so fucking much. I feel hollow and my body feels heavy.

Tears run down my cheeks as I clutch onto my mom. Sobbing into her chest, feeling utterly demolished. With blurry eyes I look out the window, the white moving trucks filling the driveway. I clench my fist around the fabric of Mom's sweater.

"Shh, you're going to find her again. You two belong together." Mom coos in my ear, stroking my head and rubbing my back.

I don't know if I'll ever finds her though. What if when I do, she doesn't want me back. Shit I know I wouldn't take myself back if I was in her position.

"You don't know that." My words muffle out as my cheek presses against mom's shoulder. The pain in my chest hurts like hell. My eyes sting, my head throbbing, and my fingers stiff from clenching my fists.

"You're right. I don't, but Aiden, you love that girl so much. I know you're going to do whatever it takes to win her back, whenever the time comes." Mom pulls my head out of her neck, holding it between her palms as she talks about me.

Sniffling, my voice cracks, "Why does it hurt this much? It shouldn't hurt." My lip quivers.

"Because you love her. You want her to be safe, even if that means having to leave her. That's love, baby. You'll find her someday, and I promise you it will all be worth it." Mom coos, hugging me tightly against her.

"I messed up Mom, I said things I can't believe I said. She has every right in her mind to hate me. I prefer her to hate me until death, then getting rejected by her. It would hurt too much." I hiccupped, my nails scratching the fabric of mom's sweater. "I mean, who's going to eat your cookies or make me get them some coffee or stay awake until I fall asleep. I'm such a mess, mom. I don't like this at all." A sob racked through my body, my body feeling limp as I cling to my mom.

"You're not a mess. You're young and have a future ahead of you. I promise you; you'll get your Juliet back." Mom sounded breathless.

"Maybe this is the universe's fucked up way to tell me she's not mine to keep." I clench my fist, my knees buckling. If mom wasn't holding me, I would have crashed down to the ground, like the rest of my world.

My Juliet.

She's not yours anymore.

"No Aiden. I probably shouldn't say this, but I know for a fact you two belong together. This is just someone fucking with you two. I know you will find out who is behind all this and when you do, you go find Juliet. No matter how far away she is." Mom pulls me out of her embrace, sternness and determination baths her eyes.

"I want to know who is behind this as much as you do. Do you think I like seeing you this heartbroken? I've seen you go through one I don't want to see another, but if I have to I will." She caresses my cheek with an adoring look on her face, "you're so strong."

I scoff, shaking my head, "no I'm not." If I were strong, I would have been able to protect Juliet at all costs.

"Yes, you are-," a knock comes from the door, cutting her off. I sniffle, wiping my tears with the back of my hand, clearing my throat,

"Come in." My voice comes out rough and evident that I've been crying like a baby.

The door opens, a sympathetic Elijah appears from behind. "Everything is packed and ready to go." He informs my mom. I almost forget I'm pissed at him for not staying.