Because Hearts Get Broken

So long, London

Taylor has been enjoying a rare day off, before her last show, lounging in the garden of her rented London house. The sun is shining, and the calm of the green space is a welcome respite from the frenetic pace of her tour. She's sitting with her friend Este, both relaxing and sipping on chilled drinks.

"So, are you looking forward to going home soon?" Este asks, her tone casual and curious.

Taylor glances at her, her smile slightly faltering. "Yeah, I am. It's been non-stop, and a break from all this would be nice."

Este nods, then leans in slightly, her expression shifting to one of concern. "I've got something to tell you," she says, catching Taylor's attention.

Taylor lifts her sunglasses to hold her hair back and faces her. "We ran into Harry the other day, well, we've seen him a couple of times." Este continues sipping on the straw of her drink.

Taylor's heart skips a beat. She sets her drink down, her eyes widening in surprise. "Really?"

Este's gaze is sympathetic. "Is there something going on between you two?"

Taylor quickly shakes her head, her expression tight. "No, not really."

Este nods, sensing Taylor's desire to drop the subject. "He seems very keen on knowing what you are up to."

Taylor sighs, dropping her sunglasses back over her eyes and facing forward, letting the sun warm her. "It's Harry. God knows what he's on about," she says dismissively, forcing a smile.

Her mind, however, is racing. She was eager to enjoy her day off, and now this... Why is he trying to reconnect with their old friends?. Does it have anything to do with her?

Surely it does, she realises with a sigh.

She knew she was awakening a sleeping giant of unresolved and long-simmering emotions when she chose to spend the night with him, promising something she's not entirely ready or even sure she can fulfil.

But this is too fast, it's all happening too fast.

She reckons she has spent most of her unoccupied hours tangled in the memory of that night, trying to be cautious not to let herself get carried away.

There's her career, her image, and her current partner to consider- her whole life is at stake.

Too fast. That's why his calls go unanswered and she is too scared to reach out.

The knot of anxiety tightens in the pit of her stomach, the reminder of how on edge she seems destined to be at all times.

She takes a long sip of the strong drink, hoping to push it down.

A couple of days later, before leaving the U.K., when it feels safe because of the distance she's about to put between them, she finally reaches out. She knows she's slowly backing down from her promise, retreating into their previous state of estrangement. But lately, anxiety and pressure seem to pile up on her all too easily.

She just needs time to sort things out. It's a mantra she keeps repeating to herself, hoping it will quiet the chaos in her mind.

Taylor reads Harry's answer again: "Proud of you. I miss you." It's a simple note.

She hasn't confronted him about reaching out to her friends, even though it felt intrusive and left her feeling uneasy.

He has a right to reconnect with whoever he wants—after all, they were his friends too at some point. Just because her relationship with them is closer doesn't mean they can't be friendly or cordial with him. Besides, she's been too busy and overwhelmed to give it more thought.

She is sitting in what's been her bedroom for the past weeks, surrounded by the organised chaos that is her team packing up her belongings.

The room, once a personal sanctuary during her touring days, now feels like a transition zone, marking not just the end of the tour but maybe the ending of something else.

She's in a relationship that has quickly cooled over the past few weeks. It's highly publicised and tightly linked with her image, making it hard to change things. She feels stuck, though a small part of her still thinks the relationship might work.

Her current partner is uncomplicated compared to the deep, artistic types she's used to.

This simplicity gives her a sense of power and control she hasn't felt before in any relationship—no emotional upheavals, no intense conversations. It's safe but lacks genuine intimacy. She's in charge, dictating how, when, and why things happen.

It kind of helps her keep herself together. She doesn't want to go back to the episodes she experienced after her last failed relationships, because she is terrified of what may still lie beneath the surface.

The months between her breakup with Joe and meeting Travis had been brutal.

She lost her mind momentarily; the grief of slowly losing not just her partner but her mainstay of the past six years had rendered her unfit to function, reaching the point of dysfunction. It was this dysfunction that had pushed her to lean on the wrong person for recovery. He, whom she won't name, had made promises, offering the emotional security she required to survive, only to leave her high and dry. It felt like descending into madness. Only her commitment to ensure her tour was a success kept her afloat. Then he showed up—Travis.

Still, she questions whether he loves her or just the lifestyle she provides. Can he truly see her for who she is? Will he ever?

She is at a crossroads, wondering if she can continue with this predictable relationship or if she should allow herself to seek something deeper, even if it means risking losing this sense of control.

The public, however, is enthralled by their love story. Fans are buzzing with excitement, convinced that an engagement announcement could come any day now.