estella thought she had the perfect life, the perfect friends and the perfect boyfriend that was from a fairy tale movie who she thought she would married and live happily ever after. unfortunately on prom night her fantasies was crushed by a sudd...
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the air hung thick and heavy with unspoken words as matt sat across from bella at their usual booth in the corner of the diner. the red vinyl felt colder than usual, or maybe it was just the nervous sweat cooling on his palms. he pushed around a plate of fries that had gone lukewarm, the scent of grease doing nothing to settle the storm in his stomach.
he'd been dreading this moment all week. but the fights, the constant bickering about everything and nothing, had become too much. every disagreement felt like another brick on their chest, slowly suffocating the joy they used to find in each other.
bella, her eyes tracing invisible patterns on the worn tabletop, looked as miserable as he felt. her usual vibrant smile, the one that used to make his heart skip a beat, was nowhere in sight.
"so..." matt started, his voice catching in his throat.
"so..." bella echoed, her voice barely a whisper.
the silence stretched between them, punctuated only by the clatter of cutlery and the murmur of distant conversations. he had rehearsed the words a thousand times in his head, yet now, faced with her pain-filled eyes, they seemed to evaporate into thin air.
"maybe we should...take a break," he finally managed, the words tasting bitter on his tongue.
a tear escaped bella's eye and traced a solitary path down her cheek. he resisted the urge to reach out and wipe it away, knowing it would only make things harder.
"is that what you want?" she asked, her voice small and fragile.
matt looked away, unable to bear the pain in her eyes. he knew this was hurting her, but clinging to a sinking ship wouldn't help either of them.
"i...i think it's what we both need," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "we're constantly fighting, bella. it's not healthy."
she nodded slowly, her gaze fixed on the salt shaker she was twisting between her fingers. "you're right," she admitted, her voice thick with unshed tears. "but that doesn't make it hurt any less."
he wanted to tell her it would be alright, that they would find their way back to each other. but the truth was, he wasn't sure of anything anymore.
the rest of the conversation was a blur of logistical arrangements – who kept the record player, who watered the plants, how long this "break" would last. they spoke in hushed tones, their words heavy with a sense of finality that hung over them like a shroud.
as they walked out of the diner, the setting sun casting long shadows on the pavement, a cold wind swept through the street. matt shivered, and not just from the cold. he watched as bella hailed a cab, her shoulders slumped, her usual vibrant energy replaced by a quiet sadness.
the grey car disappeared around the corner, taking a piece of his heart with it. he stood there for a long moment, the weight of what he'd lost settling upon him like a physical burden. the future stretched before him, uncertain and vast, and for the first time in a long time, matt felt utterly and completely alone.
after a tearful goodbye the walk back to bella's apartment was agonizing, shrouded in a heavy silence. at her doorstep, he offered a weak, "call me if you need anything," hating how hollow it sounded. bella offered a faint smile that didn't reach her eyes and disappeared inside.
the moment the door clicked shut, the carefully constructed dam holding back bella's emotions crumbled. tears streamed down her face as the weight of matt's words crashed over her. it wasn't the break itself that devastated her, but the confirmation that their problems, the ones they'd been dancing around for weeks, were serious enough to warrant this separation.
curling up on the couch, a wave of loneliness washed over her. thankfully, before it could pull her under, the doorbell rang. it was stacy, her ever-reliable best friend, her timing impeccable as always.
seeing bella's tear-stained face, stacy didn't bother with pleasantries. she gathered bella in a hug, the warmth and familiarity a comforting anchor in the storm raging inside her.
"let it out," stacy whispered, holding her close.
and bella did. she cried, releasing the pent-up frustration, hurt, and confusion that had been swirling within her. stacy listened patiently, offering comforting words and tissues, a silent testament to the power of true friendship.
as the night wore on, they talked, sharing stories, laughter slowly weaving its way back into the space between tears. bella knew the road ahead wouldn't be easy, but with stacy by her side, she felt a glimmer of hope. maybe this break, however painful, was a chance for both her and matt to heal and grow. and maybe, just maybe, it would lead them back to each other, stronger and wiser than before.
the apartment door slammed shut with a force that reverberated through matt's skull, mirroring the throbbing ache in his chest. bella was gone. again. this time, it was a "break," not a fight they could kiss and make up from.
he stumbled through the living room, kicking aside a stray video game controller (probably chris's) and collapsing onto the couch. a strangled sob escaped his lips, and he buried his face in his hands.
suddenly, two pairs of arms were around him, a familiar weight on either side. matt didn't need to look to know it was nick and chris, his triplet brothers, his anchors in the storm that was his life.
"let it out, bro," nick murmured, his voice rough with sympathy.
and matt did. he cried, the tears hot and messy, as he poured out his heart about bella, their fights, the break that felt more like a fracture. he spoke of his fear, his insecurities, the crushing weight of feeling like he wasn't good enough.
chris, always the quieter twin, just held him tight, his presence a steady comfort. when matt's sobs subsided into hiccups, nick took over, his arm slung around matt's shoulders.
"listen," nick said, his voice firm but gentle, "bella's got issues, man. we all see it. but this? this breakdown? this is about you. you gotta figure out what's eating you up inside."
matt sniffed, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. "what if i can't fix it, nick?"
chris squeezed his shoulder. "you don't have to fix it alone, matt. that's what we're here for."
and in that moment, surrounded by the unwavering love of his brothers, matt felt a flicker of hope spark within in him. he was broken, yes, but even broken things could be mended. he had time, he had support, and he had two brothers who knew him better than he knew himself. maybe, just maybe, he could find a way to piece himself back together.
