Her Love

Chapter Seven: Begging

The early morning light filters through the curtains, casting a soft glow on Adeline's face as she lies beside me. For a moment, everything feels perfect, but the silence between us is heavy, laden with unspoken words and the weight of my confession from the night before. I watch as she stirs, her eyes slowly fluttering open. She looks at me, and I can see the conflict in her gaze. The easy, carefree connection we shared has been complicated by the three words I couldn't hold back. As much as I wanted to believe that everything would be okay, the reality of the situation hangs over us. Adeline sits up slowly, pulling the sheets around her.
"I should go," she says quietly, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "I need to think."
"Adeline, wait," I say, my voice breaking slightly. I sit up, reaching out to touch her arm. "Please don't go."
She looks at me, her eyes wide and uncertain. "Matthew, I don't know what to do with this. We barely know each other, and now you're saying you love me. It's too much, too soon."
"I know it's fast, but I can't help how I feel," I reply, my heart pounding. "These past few weeks with you have been amazing. I didn't expect to feel this way either, but I do."
She shakes her head, looking down at the sheets. "This was supposed to be simple. No strings attached. Just fun."
"I know," I whisper, my voice pleading. "But it became more for me. I don't want to lose you, Adeline. Please, stay. Let's figure this out together."
We sit there for a moment, the tension between us easing slightly. I pull her into my arms, holding her close, and she rests her head on my shoulder. For now, it's enough to have her here with me.
But as the morning light grows brighter, the reality of the situation becomes harder to ignore. Adeline pulls away, looking at me with a mixture of sadness and resolve. "I need to go," she says, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Adeline, please," I beg, my voice cracking. "Please don't go. We can make this work. We can figure it out together."
She shakes her head, tears welling up in her eyes. "I'm sorry, Matthew. I need time. I can't stay here and pretend like everything is okay when I'm so confused."
I feel a lump in my throat, my heart breaking at her words. "But I love you," I whisper, my voice raw with emotion.
"I know," she replies softly, her own tears spilling over. "But right now, I need to find myself. I need to figure out what I want."
She stands up, gathering her clothes and getting dressed. I watch her, feeling helpless, as if I'm losing a part of myself. "Please, Adeline," I say one last time, my voice barely audible. "Don't leave me."
She turns to face me, her expression filled with sorrow. "I'm sorry," she says again, before turning and walking out the door.
The sound of the door closing echoes through the empty room, and I feel a crushing weight settle over me. I lie back down on the bed, the sheets still warm from where she lay, and close my eyes. Tears stream down my face, and I can't hold back the sobs that wrack my body.
I cry myself to sleep that night, the pain of her absence an unbearable ache in my chest. The room feels emptier, colder, without her. And as the hours pass, I can't help but wonder if I'll ever see her again, or if I've lost her forever.