(Katie McCabe and Caitlin Foord)
Caitlin Foord stood at the edge of the field, the stadium lights casting long shadows in the quiet evening. The training session had ended an hour ago, but she couldn't bring herself to leave. She watched Katie McCabe as she jogged towards her, that effortless grace in every step, the infectious energy that made everyone around her feel more alive. Caitlin's heart ached, a familiar pain that had grown sharper over the past few months.
Katie smiled, a casual, easy smile that seemed to light up the twilight. "Why are you still here?" she asked, her voice teasing but warm.
Caitlin shrugged, trying to mask the turmoil inside. "Just thinking," she replied. "It's peaceful out here."
Katie nodded, sitting down beside Caitlin, her presence both a comfort and a torment. "You think too much," she said lightly, nudging Caitlin's shoulder with hers. "You should relax more."
Caitlin forced a smile, the corners of her mouth barely lifting. "Yeah, maybe."
But relaxation was impossible when your heart was a battlefield. Caitlin had fallen for Katie hard and fast, and for a while, it seemed like Katie felt the same. There were late-night talks, shared secrets, and stolen kisses. But lately, Caitlin felt like she was just a convenience for Katie, a constant presence she could take or leave as she pleased.
Katie's phone buzzed, and she glanced at it, her face lighting up. Caitlin didn't have to ask who it was; she knew. It was always someone else, someone new, someone more exciting. The realization twisted in Caitlin's gut like a knife.
"I have to go," Katie said, standing up and dusting off her shorts. "Some friends are having a thing, and I promised I'd stop by."
Caitlin nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat. "Of course. Have fun."
Katie smiled, but there was something distant in her eyes. "Don't wait up, okay?"
And just like that, she was gone, leaving Caitlin in the deepening darkness. Caitlin hugged her knees to her chest, the weight of unspoken words pressing down on her. How many more times could she endure this? How much longer could she cling to someone who only kept her around because it was convenient?
Days turned into weeks, and the distance between them grew. Caitlin tried to talk to Katie, to explain how she felt, but Katie always brushed it off, always had an excuse, always another place to be.
One evening, after a particularly grueling match, Caitlin found herself alone in the locker room, the silence oppressive. She picked up her phone, her fingers trembling as she typed out a message to Katie.
"We need to talk."
The response was almost immediate. "Can't tonight. Maybe tomorrow."
Maybe tomorrow. It was always maybe tomorrow. Caitlin's resolve hardened. She couldn't keep living like this, hanging onto a thread that was fraying more each day.
She gathered her things and left the stadium, the cold night air a stark contrast to the storm inside her. She walked aimlessly, her thoughts a whirlwind of memories and regrets. She found herself at the park where they had shared their first kiss, where Katie had laughed and promised the world.
Caitlin sat on the bench, the weight of everything finally breaking her. She sobbed quietly, the tears she had held back for so long spilling over. She cried for the love she had given so freely, for the dreams she had woven around Katie, for the heart that was breaking.
Her phone buzzed, a message from Katie. "Hey, are you okay? Where are you?"
Caitlin stared at the screen, the words blurring through her tears. She wanted to reply, to run back to Katie and beg for things to be different. But she knew it wouldn't change. Katie would always have one foot out the door, always looking for the next thrill, the next distraction.
Taking a deep breath, Caitlin typed out a final message. "I'm done, Katie. I can't do this anymore."
She hit send and turned off her phone, the silence that followed both terrifying and liberating. She stood up, wiping her tears, and walked away from the park, from the memories, from the heartbreak.
Katie read Caitlin's message, the words sinking in slowly. She had always assumed Caitlin would be there, always waiting, always understanding. The realization that she had pushed Caitlin too far hit her like a punch to the gut.
She tried calling, but it went straight to voicemail. She sent message after message, but there was no reply. Panic set in, a fear she had never felt before. She had taken Caitlin for granted, and now she was gone.
Katie drove to Caitlin's place, banging on the door, calling her name. But there was no answer. The emptiness of the night echoed her own emptiness inside. She slumped against the door, tears she had never allowed herself to shed falling freely now.
"I'm sorry," she whispered into the void. "I'm so sorry."
But it was too late. Caitlin had finally run for the hills, leaving Katie to face the desolation she had created. And for the first time, Katie felt the true weight of her actions, the loss of the one person who had loved her unconditionally.
The next morning, Caitlin boarded a plane, the sun rising behind her as she left the city, the memories, and Katie behind. She stared out the window, her heart heavy but resolute. She deserved more than being someone's second choice, more than waiting for love that was never truly hers.
As the plane soared into the sky, Caitlin closed her eyes, the tears drying on her cheeks. She would heal, she would move on, and one day, she would find someone who loved her the way she deserved to be loved. And maybe, just maybe, Katie would learn what it meant to lose something precious, something irreplaceable.
But for now, all Caitlin could do was run, run for the hills, and never look back.
