(Lucy Bronze and Keira Walsh)
Keira sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the half-packed suitcase on the floor. The weight of the decision she was about to make pressed down on her chest like a physical force. The room was silent, save for the ticking of the clock on the nightstand—a sound that seemed to amplify the passage of time, reminding her of the inevitability of this moment.
Lucy was in the next room, probably lost in her thoughts as well, the same thoughts that had plagued them both for weeks. The distance between them, once so filled with laughter and shared dreams, had grown into an abyss. It was the kind of distance that no words could bridge, not anymore.
Keira had tried to ignore it, to push it to the back of her mind, but it was always there—haunting her like a ghost she couldn't shake. She knew the exact moment when things had started to fall apart. It was July, and the summer sun had been unbearably bright, casting everything in a harsh light that revealed the cracks in their relationship.
Lucy had been crying on her shoulder that day, her tears wetting the fabric of Keira's shirt. Keira had held her, not knowing what to say, only knowing that something had shifted between them. It was the first time in months that Lucy had let herself be vulnerable, and it was also the last. After that, they had both pulled away, retreating into their own worlds, pretending that everything was fine.
But it wasn't fine.
As Keira sat there, she could still see Lucy in her mind, the way she had looked at her with those bright, determined eyes, so different from the girl she had fallen in love with years ago. Lucy had changed, and Keira had changed too. They had grown in different directions, and now it felt like they were strangers living under the same roof.
Keira remembered the first time she had seen Lucy, how she had felt an instant connection, a spark that had ignited something deep within her. They had been inseparable, their love as fierce and passionate as the game they both played. But somewhere along the way, that fire had dimmed, and they had stopped fighting for each other.
It wasn't that they didn't love each other anymore—Keira knew that Lucy still loved her, and she still loved Lucy. But it wasn't the same. There was someone else now, a shadow in the background of their lives, someone who had unknowingly come between them.
Keira had never met her, this girl from Lucy's past, but she felt her presence like a constant ache in her chest. She wondered if Lucy saw her too, in the back of her mind, every time they were together. Did Lucy compare them? Did she think about what could have been? Keira never asked, because she wasn't sure she wanted to know the answer.
And then there was Valentine's Day.
That was the day Keira had realized that she couldn't go on like this. They had been in a hotel room, trying to rekindle the spark that had long since faded. But instead of the warmth and comfort she had hoped for, Keira had felt a coldness between them that she couldn't ignore. Lucy had cried again, silent tears that she tried to hide, but Keira had seen them. She hadn't asked what was wrong, because deep down, she already knew.
Keira had kept it to herself, the hurt, the doubt, the fear that she was losing Lucy to a memory. She had tried to be strong, to pretend that everything was okay, but it wasn't. And now, as she looked at the suitcase on the floor, she knew that it was time to let go.
Lucy walked into the room, her eyes red-rimmed and tired. She looked at Keira, and for a moment, neither of them said anything. The silence was heavy, filled with all the things they couldn't bring themselves to say.
"I'm leaving," Keira finally whispered, her voice trembling.
Lucy nodded, a single tear slipping down her cheek. "I know."
Keira stood up, walking over to Lucy, and took her hand. "I'm sorry," she said, her voice breaking.
Lucy shook her head. "Don't be. We both knew this was coming."
Keira pulled her into a tight embrace, holding her as if she could somehow hold onto the past, hold onto the love they had once shared. But it was too late. The love was still there, but it had changed, morphed into something unrecognizable.
"I'll always love you," Keira whispered into Lucy's hair.
"And I'll always love you," Lucy replied, her voice barely audible.
They stood there for a long time, holding each other, both knowing that this was the last goodbye. Finally, Keira pulled away, picking up her suitcase. She paused at the door, turning to look at Lucy one last time.
"Take care of yourself," she said softly.
"You too," Lucy replied, her eyes filled with tears that she didn't bother to hide this time.
Keira walked out of the room, out of the apartment they had shared for so long, and out of Lucy's life. As she stepped into the cold night air, she felt a strange sense of relief mixed with an overwhelming sadness. She knew she had made the right decision, but it didn't make it any easier.
As she walked down the street, Keira could still see Lucy in the back of her mind, the girl she had once loved so deeply. But now, she knew that it was time to let go, to put it all behind her, even if a part of her would always wonder what could have been.
Good things don't last, Keira thought to herself as she disappeared into the night. And life moves so fast. But maybe, just maybe, they could both find happiness again, even if it wasn't with each other.
