The room was dimly lit, the soft hum of the air conditioner the only sound filling the space, but inside your head, it was deafening. The words of "I Love You So" by The Walters echoed, looping endlessly in your mind. The song played like the soundtrack to the complicated feelings swirling inside you. You couldn't escape it.
I just need someone in my life to give it structure...
That line had stuck with you, pressing heavy against your chest. That was Wally West to you—your structure, your constant in a world that always seemed to be spinning too fast. From the moment you had met him, with his easy grin and that boundless energy, you had known. He had swept into your life like a whirlwind, and it had felt so effortless to fall for him. He was everything you wanted. He was the one that made your heart race, made you feel safe and alive in ways no one else could.
But lately, there had been cracks. Little things you had brushed off at first, but now they lingered in the back of your mind, gnawing away at the certainty you'd once held. The way Wally’s eyes lingered just a little too long on Artemis after missions. How his smile seemed different when it was directed at her, warmer, softer in a way that made your stomach twist. The worst part was the way his touches, once meant for you alone, would sometimes brush against Artemis in ways that felt more than friendly. Just enough to make you wonder if maybe—just maybe—you weren’t the only one on his mind.
But is that Wally’s touch? Or am I overthinking this? The thought made your skin crawl, but you couldn’t shake it.
You stood in the shadows of the training room now, leaning against the cool wall, watching him and Artemis from a distance. They had just wrapped up another mission. It had been a grueling one, and while you were still catching your breath, Wally seemed perfectly at ease. He was laughing, wiping sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. Artemis was laughing too, her hair tousled from the fight, and she looked at him in a way that made your heart sink.
They stood closer than they needed to, their conversation flowing effortlessly, as if the exhaustion from the mission hadn’t even touched them. And there it was again—Wally’s hand grazing Artemis' arm, light and brief but undeniably there. Your chest tightened, and for a moment, you hated yourself for noticing, for caring so much when it shouldn’t matter.
Maybe you’re imagining it. Maybe it’s nothing.
But that didn’t stop the ache that had begun to settle deep inside you.
The song’s chorus rang through your mind again.
I love you so... please let me go.
It was ironic, really, how much those lyrics felt like your life at that moment. Because as much as you wanted Wally to be yours, truly yours, doubt had crept in. Was Wally the one who needed to let go of you? Or was it you that needed to release the hope you held onto so tightly?
Wally glanced up, catching your eye across the room, and for a split second, his smile faltered. Just barely, but you noticed. He waved, his usual carefree expression returning instantly, and in that moment, all you wanted was to run into his arms and forget every insecurity, every fear that had begun to wedge its way between you two.
But you didn’t move. Instead, you returned the wave, forcing a smile that you weren’t sure reached your eyes. You felt frozen, unable to bridge the gap between you. You weren’t sure you even wanted to. Not when you didn’t know if you were what he wanted anymore.
You watched as Artemis said something that made Wally laugh, his hand reaching up to ruffle her hair in that playful, casual way of his. It was a gesture that once had been just between the two of you, and the realization hit you like a punch to the gut. Maybe it was nothing. Maybe Wally didn’t even realize he was doing it. But that didn’t make it hurt any less.
You are all I want, you thought bitterly. But am I all you want?
The song’s lyrics pressed harder into your mind, almost mocking now.
I love you so...
Wally broke away from Artemis and began walking toward you, his familiar lopsided grin in place. Your heart pounded, but this time it wasn’t from excitement. It was from the weight of the question that you knew you couldn’t keep holding inside.
“Hey, you okay?” Wally asked, stopping in front of you, his tone light but with an edge of concern. He reached out, brushing a strand of hair from your face in a gesture that was supposed to feel comforting, but right now it only felt... hollow. Like an echo of what you used to have.
You swallowed hard, forcing yourself to meet his eyes. They were still the same vibrant green that had once made you feel like you were the only person in the world. But now... now you weren’t so sure.
“I’m fine,” you lied, your voice barely a whisper.
Wally frowned, tilting his head. “You don’t seem fine. Is something up?”
There it was—the moment. You could let it go, push it down like you had been for weeks now, or you could ask. You could open the door to a conversation that might change everything, for better or worse.
But do you want the answer? A voice inside you asked, trembling.
“Wally...” you began, your voice shaky. “Is there... Is there something going on between you and Artemis?”
The question hung in the air between you like a weight, heavy and suffocating. Wally blinked, clearly caught off guard, and for a second, you thought maybe you had been wrong. Maybe it really was all in your head.
But then you saw it—the flicker of hesitation in his eyes. It was small, barely noticeable, but it was enough. Enough to make your heart shatter a little more.
“No,” he said quickly, but his voice lacked the usual confidence. “No, of course not. We’re just friends.”
Just friends. It should have been enough, but it wasn’t. Because you knew Wally, knew him better than anyone, and the way his gaze shifted, the way he fidgeted just a bit too much... it told you everything you needed to know. Maybe nothing had happened. Maybe it was all in the subtext, in the unspoken moments between them. But that didn’t make it any less real.
You nodded, biting your lip to keep the tears at bay. “Right. Just friends.”
Wally stepped closer, concern etched on his face. “Hey, come on. You know you’re the one I care about. You’re the one I—” He stopped himself, and for a moment, you thought he was going to say it. But he didn’t. He just stood there, looking at you with that same confused expression.
I love you so... please let me go...
The song’s words reverberated in your mind again, and for the first time, you considered it. Maybe letting go was what you needed. Because loving someone wasn’t supposed to feel like this—like constantly questioning, constantly wondering if you were enough.
You gave Wally a small, sad smile, stepping back. “I just need some time,” you whispered, your voice barely holding together. “To think.”
Wally opened his mouth to protest, but then he seemed to realize there was nothing he could say to fix it. At least, not right now.
You turned and walked away, the weight of the song still heavy in your mind. You loved Wally West more than anything, but maybe loving him wasn’t enough. Not when the doubt lingered, not when his heart seemed torn between you and someone else. Maybe it was time to let go.
For the first time, you weren’t sure if love was enough to hold onto.
