Unwritten Rules

Heart To Heart

Mike's POV

The day dragged on painfully slowly, each second stretching into an eternity. Locked out of my room, I found solace in a bottle of whiskey, the alcohol dulling the sharp edges of my heartache but doing nothing to fill the void Kierra's absence left behind. 

My tears fell freely, each drops a testament to the agony of a love lost to circumstances beyond our control.

The evening brought no respite. The world outside continued its indifferent march forward while I remained trapped in a cycle of sorrow and regret. 

Every corner of my house bore memories of her—her laughter echoing off the walls, her scent lingering on the cushions. I couldn't escape her, even in my solitude.

Three days before Kierra's graduation, I found myself standing outside her door, my heart pounding in my chest. The determination to win her back had overridden my fear. I knocked softly, the sound barely audible over the din of my racing thoughts.

Kierra opened the door, her eyes widening in surprise before a veil of sadness settled over her features. "Mike, what are you doing here?" she asked, her voice a mix of curiosity and wariness.

"I need to talk to you," I said, my voice trembling with emotion. "Please, just hear me out."

She stepped aside, allowing me to enter. The room was filled with the bittersweet remnants of our shared moments, making the air thick with unspoken words.

"Kierra," I began, struggling to keep my voice steady, "I know we agreed to end things, but I can't let go. I can't pretend that everything is okay when it's not. I love you too much to just walk away."

She turned to face me, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Mike, we've been through this. I can't let you sacrifice everything for me. It's not fair to you."

I stepped closer, my desperation palpable. "Fair? What's fair about losing you? What's fair about us being apart when we both know we belong together? I've thought about it endlessly, and I can't come to terms with it. I don't care about the job or the reputation. I care about you, Kierra. You're my everything."

She looked away, her shoulders trembling as she fought to hold back her tears. "It's not just about the job, Mike. It's about your future, your dreams. You worked so hard to get here. I can't be the reason you throw it all away."

I reached out, gently turning her to face me. "And what about our dreams, Kierra? What about the future we envisioned together? I can't see a future without you in it. Losing you is a far greater sacrifice than anything else. We can figure this out, together."

Her resolve wavered for a moment, but then she shook her head, tears spilling down her cheeks. "I can't, Mike. I can't be the reason you lose everything. I love you too much to let you make that choice. My decision is final."

My heart shattered all over again at her words. "Kierra, please, I'm begging you. We can find a way. We can be discreet until you graduate, until we can figure something out. Just don't walk away from us. Don't walk away from me."

She took a deep, shuddering breath, her eyes filled with a mixture of love and sorrow. "I want to believe that, Mike. I really do. But the stakes are too high. If we get caught again, you lose your career, your future. I can't live with that guilt. We have to let go, no matter how much it hurts."

I could see the pain in her eyes, the struggle she was enduring to stay firm in her decision. My heart ached for her, for us, for the love that was slipping through our fingers.