Broken Promises

Chapter I

It felt like I had been running for hours as I finally sat down on a cold stone and gazed around the grey, dark forest with watery eyes. He had left me. Everyone always leaves.

I closed my eyes and attempted to block everything out, but instead, I was brought back to the heart-shattering conversation which led me to be sitting in this forest on a cold day in October.

"Aurora, I swear I didn't mean it!"  Blake yelled, running his hands through his hair and frantically scanning my face for signs of anger. But all that I felt was a deep-rooted sadness and a heart-wrenching sting of betrayal.

"I just don't understand, why did you do it?" I muttered quietly to him, a singular tear rolling down my face. I looked down at my hands and played with my rings as I waited for an answer; an answer which had the power to destroy me. I kept my eyes down as he gently lifted my chin and wiped my tear away with the pad of his thumb.

Blake had come over this afternoon in a jittery mood and I had finally understood why when he sat me down and nervously told me what was going on. Her name was Olivia. He had been cheating for weeks. The guilt was eating him alive. He couldn't take it anymore.

"I love you, Rory," he whispered in my ear before he stood up and sighed, "but you were never good enough. I wanted this to work but I just don't find you attractive, and as much as I do love you, I need someone who I can brag about to my friends. You're so closed off and you never open up to me. I'm sorry."

With that final apology, Blake left and took my happiness with him.

I shook my head and took another look around the forest. I was surrounded by dead, barren trees which had become a dull grey as the weather had grown colder. The only sound was the distant calls of birds as they headed south before winter came. I was alone.

I checked my phone and saw 3 missed calls from Blake. A new set of tears filled my eyes as I blocked him and texted Ryan to pick me up. Ryan answered almost immediately asking for an address and what was wrong. He had always been able to sense whenever something was off. I replied with the address and ignored the latter part of the text, not in the mood for a heart-to-heart over messages.

With a defeated sigh, I slumped down on the ground and let my tears fall freely in the desolate forest.

15 minutes later, I heard the low rumble of an engine pull up beside me on the dirt road. Looking up, I watched Ryan's signature smirk fall as he looked me over and hurriedly got out of the car to scoop me up in a bear hug.

With no words muttered between us, he carried me to his car and placed me gently in the passenger seat. I'm not usually one to accept princess treatment, but my energy was depleted and my heart was broken.

"Rory, baby, what's wrong?" Ryan's soft voice filled the silence. I looked over and watched as his eyes switched between me and the road. I contemplated how to tell him about Blake cheating without us having an accident.

Since we were young, Ryan had been like the older brother I never had. We've been neighbours for as long as I can remember and our friendship began as toddlers through our parents. This led to countless fights throughout my school life as he fought any guy who would ask me out or hurt me. That was until I met Blake and Ryan had backed down for once.

I watched as he ran a hand through his wavy blonde hair and I took a deep breath.

"Blake'sbeencheatingonmeforweeks", I mumbled as fast as I could and took a peek at him. His honey-brown eyes widened in confusion before narrowing to slits.

"Don't play games with me Aurora. Slower," he demanded gently, aware of the fragile state I was in.

"Blake's... been cheating on me for weeks?" I hesitantly answered, looking into the distance. From the corner of my eye, I watched as Ryan's knuckles turn white on the steering wheel and he took a deep breath before slamming the wheel with a closed fist. He muttered some profanities under his breath and took my hand in his, slowly mending my torn-up heart.