Passion's Pitfalls

Chapter 18

"What?!"

"Tristan..." she started, her voice gentle but firm. "I need this. I need to start over, and I need to do it on my own. It's not about you, or about how bad it is here. It's about me, and what I need to do for myself." She took a deep breath, looking him straight in the eyes. "Please, don't make this harder than it
already is."

"I still don't get what you are talking about?" He asks again clearly not believing his ears.

"I'm talking about starting over, fresh," Aurelia said, trying to explain as best she could. "It's like when you get a new notebook, and the pages are all blank. You can write whatever you want, and make whatever you want of it. But if you just keep adding on to the old notebook, you'll never have that fresh start. You'll always be carrying the old stuff with you." She took a breath, hoping he would understand her analogy. "That's what I need. A fresh start, without the weight of our past."

"I have gotten an offer from Pixar," she added, a slight sad smile on her face. "It's a dream come true, really. I know it's miles away, but it's a chance for me to do what I love, to grow and learn in a new environment. I really think it's what's best for me." She looked at Tristan, hoping he would see her side of things. "I know it's a big change, but I hope you can understand why I need to do this."

Tristan was speechless, utterly trying to process everything she had just said. He had never imagined she would want to leave, or that she would have a job offer from Pixar. It all felt so sudden, and so final. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. He just sat there, feeling the weight of everything that was happening , he could feel hurt and betrayal. He thought Aurelia cared about him, but now he was starting to question everything. He felt like she was only thinking about herself, and that she didn't care about how her decision would affect him.

He turned away from her, not wanting her to see the tears welling up in his eyes. He didn't want to show any vulnerability, any sign of weakness again. He had to be strong, even if it meant holding back his emotions.

"Aurelia, please," he hissed, his voice thick with emotion. "Please don't go. You're the most important person in my life. I'll do anything to make you stay. I'll even get you a job at my mom's company, if that's what it takes. I just need you here, with me." He paused, his heart pounding in his chest. "Please, just give me a chance to make things right." He turned to face her, his eyes pleading with her.

His eyes still couldn't hide his desperation, and she could feel his pain. She could see how much he cared about her, and how much he wanted her to stay. It made her heart ache, knowing that she was the one causing him so much pain. But she also knew that she had to do what was best for herself but the thought of staying with Tristan was also tempting.

He was offering her a fresh start, a chance to start over with him, to leave all the pain and heartbreak behind. But there was also a part of her that was terrified. She had been through so much, and she wasn't sure if she could trust him, or if she could trust herself to make the right decision. She closed her eyes, trying to clear her mind.

"I need some time to think," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm not saying no, but I can't just make a decision like this right now. I need to process everything that's happened, and figure out what I want. I hope you understand." She looked at him, hoping he would give her the space she needed.

"If you really do love me Aurelia, you will stay."

Tristan's words stung. She knew he was hurt, and she understood why he felt that way. But she also felt like he was trying to manipulate her, to make her feel guilty for wanting to make her own choice. "I love you," she said, her voice steady. "But I need to do what's best for me. If you really love me, you'll respect that." She waited for his response, but none came.