Lonely hearts

8. His clothes

I sat on my bed and stared at my phone. Matt's messages burned like fire in my hands. Every time I read the words, it seemed like a piece of my heart shattered further.

"Olivia, I never want to see you again if you can't just be happy for me."

I had read the message dozens of times now, but it didn't get any less painful. The words echoed in my head and didn't leave me alone for a moment. Matt, my Matt, no longer wanted to see me. Everything I had done to protect him had now resulted in this unimaginable sadness.

I had been in bed all day, my blankets pulled tightly around me as a shield against the harsh reality. The curtains were closed, and the only sound in my room was the soft tapping of the rain against the window. My thoughts kept revolving around the same point: what had I done wrong? Why didn't Matt see that I only wanted the best for him?

My gaze fell on one of Matt's shirts lying on my desk. It was one of my favourites; I had often borrowed it when I was at home with the triplets. Now, however, it seemed a symbol of everything that had gone wrong. I felt a surge of anger rising, anger that replaced all the sadness and confusion I had felt.

"How dare he?" I whispered to myself. "How dare he send me away like this, when all I want to do is protect him?"

I stood up, my body shaky from the emotions racing through me. I walked to my closet and started pulling out all of Matt's clothes I had borrowed. Each piece of fabric felt like a reminder of better times, times when we were still friends and I supported him unconditionally. But now it felt like these pieces of clothing were just holding me back in a world that no longer existed.

I found a large cardboard box and started putting the clothes inside. Each item of clothing I put away felt like a step towards letting go of the pain. A jumper, a T-shirt, a pair of socks - each item disappeared into the box, along with the memories attached to it.

When the box was finally full, I taped it shut and wrote "Matt" on it. My heart pounded in my chest as I picked up the box and walked towards the door. I had to do this. I had to show him that I couldn't just be cast aside.

The walk to the triplets' house felt like an eternity. The sky was grey and heavy with rain, and every step felt like a battle against the storm raging inside me. When I finally stood in front of their house, I stopped for a moment to catch my breath. The emotions threatened to overwhelm me, but I persevered.

The rain lingered over the street like a gloomy veil as I stood in front of the triplets' house. The box felt heavy in my hands, not just because of the clothes, but because of the emotional burden I was carrying. I took a deep breath and pressed the bell.

The door opened and there stood Matt, with a furious expression on his face. His eyes sparked with anger and disappointment. Even before I could say anything, he started shouting.

"What are you doing here, Olivia? I thought I was clear! Why can't you just be happy for me?"

His words hit me like knives, but I refused to let this break me. I took a deep breath and tried to stay calm.

"Matt, I'm not in the mood for your bullshit," I said in a steady voice. "I'm not here to argue. I'm here to show you that I'm only trying to protect you."

Matt snorted contemptuously and shook his head. "Protecting? Protect me from what, Olivia? From someone who wants to be happy with me? You have no idea what you're talking about."

My patience was running out. I felt the frustration and anger bubbling up inside me. "You're not even listening to me! Amber is using you for your fame. She doesn't really care about you, Matt!"

He looked at me, his eyes full of disbelief and anger. "That's not true! You're just jealous and possessive. You can't stand the fact that I spend more time with her than with you."

Those words were the straw. I felt my face turn red with anger and my hands shook as I put the box down. "This is ridiculous," I said, my voice shaky with emotion. "I did everything I could to help you, to protect you, and this is the thanks I get?"

Matt opened his mouth to say something, but I didn't give him the chance. With a swift movement, I threw the box at his feet. "Here, take all your stuff back. Maybe they'll remind you who really cared about you."

Before he could respond, I turned and started walking back home. My tears mingled with the rain, and my heart felt heavier than ever. Every word he had said, every accusation, hurt more than I could have anticipated.

I heard Matt's voice behind me, but I refused to listen. I needed to get away, away from the pain and disappointment. The rain slapped my face and drenched my clothes, but I felt nothing except the burning feeling of betrayal and loss.

When I finally got home, I felt exhausted and empty. I crawled back into my bed and pulled the covers over me. The world felt cold and hostile, but I knew I had taken an important step. I had set my boundaries and maintained my dignity, no matter how difficult it had been.