Shattered Reflections

Chapter 28

June 28, 2024

Fae and her friends had finally finished their finals and the end of the school year brought a sense of relief and freedom. Despite the excitement and the newfound free time, something was off for Fae. Kai had been increasingly distant and cold, their once frequent texts to almost nothing. It was as if the closeness they once shared had evaporated overnight.

July 8, 2024

One sunny afternoon, Fae met up with her friends Maddy, Sophie, Ally, and Fiona at their favorite spot in the city. The bustling streets and lively atmosphere provided a perfect backdrop for their reunion.

"Hey, Fae!" Sophie greeted her with a big smile. "Feels so good to be done with school!"

"Yeah, it's a relief," Fae replied, forcing a smile.

As they walked through the city, stopping at various shops and cafes, Fae couldn't help but feel a knot in her stomach. She hadn't heard from Kai in days, and the lack of communication was eating at her. She tried to stay present with her friends, but her mind kept wandering back to him.

Eventually, they found a quiet park bench and decided to sit down for a while. Fiona, noticing Fae's distant expression, nudged her gently.

"Hey, what's going on? You've been quiet all day."

Fae sighed, staring at the ground. "It's Kai. He's been so distant lately. Barely texting, acting cold... It's like we're not even close anymore."

Maddy frowned. "What the fuck, seriously? Again?"

"Yeah," Fae muttered. "I don't get it. We were fine just a couple of weeks ago. Now it's like he doesn't give a shit."

Ally put a comforting hand on Fae's shoulder. "You deserve better than this, Fae. If he's going to treat you like that, he's not worth your time."

Sophie nodded in agreement. "Fuck him. If he can't appreciate you, then he's the one missing out."

Fae appreciated her friends' support, but it didn't make the situation any less painful. "I just... I don't know what I did wrong. Everything seemed perfect, he changed and I'm just tiredof trying, but I still miss him alot. I'm waiting for him to text me."

Fiona sighed. "People can be shitty sometimes. But don't blame yourself. Maybe he's dealing with his own crap and doesn't know how to handle it."

They sat in silence for a while, the weight of Fae's worries hanging in the air. She knew her friends were right, but it didn't make it any easier to accept.

July 15, 2024

Another week passes. The text from him she wanted never came through.

Things with Kai just got worse. His replies were dry as fuck, like he couldn't be bothered. Fae felt like she was holding onto something that used to be everything but was now just nothing.

One night, she sat on her bed, staring at her phone, waiting for something from Kai. Anything. But as she looked at their recent chats, it was clear he had checked out emotionally.

Finally, she sighed and threw her phone aside, leaning back against her pillows. She couldn't keep doing this to herself. She couldn't keep holding on to someone who clearly wasn't putting in any effort.

July 16, 2024

The next day, Fae met up with her friends at their usual café. The smell of coffee and the buzz of people filled the air. She stirred her latte, her thoughts still on Kai.

Sophie noticed her expression. "Still thinking about Kai?"

Fae nodded. "I won't text him till he texts me first."

Maddy frowned, sipping her iced coffee. "Finally, Jesus."

"I know," Fae said softly. "It just sucks. I really thought we had something."

Ally leaned forward, her voice gentle but firm. "You deserve someone who's going to be there for you, Fae. Someone who's going to make an effort and show you they care. If Kai can't do that, then fuck him."

Fae thought in her head: That's what I wished for lowkey. Then she quickly snapped out of it.

Fiona nodded in agreement. "Yeah, fuck him. You're amazing, and if he can't see that, then he doesn't deserve you."

Their words hit home. They were right. It was time to let go and focus on herself. Fae had put so much energy into a relationship that was now one-sided, and it was draining her.

That night, Fae made the decision. She would stop messaging Kai. If he wanted to talk, he knew where to find her. But she wouldn't chase after him anymore.

Little did she know, it would've been her final decision between them.