𝑆𝐸𝐶𝑅𝐸𝑇𝑆 𝐵𝐸𝑁𝐸𝐴𝑇𝐻 𝑇𝐻𝐸 𝑆𝑈𝑅𝐹𝐴𝐶𝐸

Seven

2 days later .

Pulling out a peace of paper and a pin ,  I begun to write out my thoughts on paper

"Dear Aaliyah,

I don't even know how to start this because there's so much I need to say, and all of it feels tangled in my chest. You're in my head constantly, and it's driving me crazy, but in a way, I don't even want to stop. I'm so weak for you, Aaliyah. I can't lie about it anymore.

It's like I'm falling apart without you. I can barely eat because my stomach won't settle unless it's thinking about you. And when I try to sleep, all I do is toss and turn because you're the only thing on my mind. The truth is, I cry for you more than I'd ever admit out loud. I've been holding it in for so long, but I can't hold it anymore. My heart—it only beats for you, Aaliyah. I've tried to fight it, but I can't.

You've got this grip on me that I can't break, even if I wanted to. And the crazy thing is, I don't want to. You make me feel things I didn't think I was even capable of feeling. It's terrifying, but it's beautiful too. I'd do anything to make you see just how much you mean to me. Anything to prove I'm not letting go of this feeling, of you.

I'm sorry if this is too much, but I needed you to know. You're my everything, Aaliyah. Always will be.

Yours, truly
Ken"

I was relaxed and calm once I wrote those words down , me and Aaliyah had spent the entire weekend together . I was so in love with her , and when she went back home on Sunday morning, I could honestly say i felt better and ate better after being in her amusing presence.

Once the bell wrong , I headed to the other building. Trying to catch Aaliyah before she went to her next class , I spotted her long , beautiful black her in the crowded hallway of lake view.

" Aaliyah !" I shouted

But once she turned around , she didn't look so happy to see me .  And that's when my smile dropped .

She grabbed me by my arm and pulled me into the janitors closet . I smiled , thinking she was just trying to get me all to herself , but boy  was I wrong .

" Ken, we need to talk . About us"

" go on"

" Ken, I need to be honest with you because carrying this inside has been breaking me. When I lost the baby, the way you treated me crushed me in ways I can't even put into words. I was already drowning in my own grief, but instead of supporting me, you made me feel like I was to blame, like I had to bear all that pain alone. I hated how cold and distant you became, how you made me feel like I wasn't enough for you anymore. That kind of hurt is something I never want to go through again. As much as I care about you, I can't let myself go back to that place. I need to protect my heart now, even if it means letting you go." She explained .

Once she said those crushing words, I felt overwhelmed. The way I put myself through hell for her , just for her to drop me because of my mistakes. Aaliyah was my everything , I almost died for her , I threw up almost every night because I needed her . I need her love , her kindness . I wanted her more than anything . But clearly that wasn't enough for her .

Ken stood in front of Aaliyah, his chest rising and falling in heavy, erratic breaths. His face was twisted in fury, his hands clenched into fists at his sides, his voice shaking with a mixture of anger and hurt.

"Do you know how fucked up this shit is, Aaliyah? All this time, I've been busting my ass, starving myself just to make you happy, and for what? So you can go on, living your life like nothing ever happened? Like we didn't lose our baby? Our kid?" He stepped closer, his voice growing louder, raw. "You act like I'm the one holding onto the past when it's you who's moved on! You've been out here living it up, smiling and laughing like nothing's ever broken you the way it broke me. You think that shit's fair?"

He shoved his hand through his hair, pacing in frustration, his face twisted in pain. "I almost fucking died, Aaliyah. You think I'm exaggerating? The nights I stayed up, choking on my own tears because I couldn't handle the weight of it. And you... you just forget about it like it never even happened. It feels like I'm dying inside every day, and it's all because of you." His eyes burned with unshed tears, but the anger wouldn't let him cry. Not yet.

"You've got me so fucked up in the head that I don't even recognize myself anymore," he spat, closing the distance between them, trapping her in the corner. "I'm sick of this shit. I'm sick of you and your fake ass smile. I'm tired of giving a fuck about someone who can't even be real with me. So do me a favor, Aaliyah... and just get the fuck outta my life already."

And with that , I walked out . I didn't care what she had to say today , and for the first time in my life , I felt like I was ready for her to walk out of my life .

Completely.

Clenching my fist , I pulled my black hoodie over my head and walked into my next class . I was so mad that my fist stayed balled up . Until my teacher made an announcement that caught my attention.

Mr. Harris stood at the front of the class, his usual laid-back attitude replaced by an excited energy. "Alright, listen up, seniors! I've got some exciting news for you all. Next Tuesday, we're heading out on a field trip to some cabins for three days and three nights! Yeah, that's right. It's gonna be a hell of a time."

He paused, giving the class a moment to let the news sink in. "Now, here's the deal. You'll be paired up in groups of two, and each pair will have their own cabin to stay in. And trust me, it's not just about sitting around doing nothing. We've got a bunch of group challenges lined up for you guys. Think you're tough? Prove it."

"First challenge? Swimming. You'll be racing across the lake to see who's got the fastest stroke. But if you're not a swimmer, don't worry, we've got some other stuff for you too." He grinned, clearly enjoying the suspense. "There'll also be an ice bath challenge. You and your partner will have to last in the ice-cold water for two minutes. Let's see who can handle the cold the longest."

Mr. Harris walked up and down the aisles, watching the students' reactions. "We're also throwing in a night-time navigation challenge. You and your partner will have to use a map and compass to find certain items hidden around the cabins after dark. And don't even think about taking shortcuts—this is all about teamwork."

"And last but not least," he continued, "we've got a survival skills challenge. You'll need to work together to build a shelter using only what you find around the area. Whoever builds the most solid shelter wins bragging rights."

He grinned widely. "You'll be staying in those cabins, eating meals together, and working as a team to tackle all these challenges. I hope you're all ready for a tough but fun time. I'm looking forward to seeing who steps up and shows what they're made of. Get your gear ready—this is going to be one field trip you won't forget!"

The news made my day a bit better , considering that I would be having time away from my house . And Aaliyah .

I was hoping that one of my homeboys was going , so that I could get my mind off of things . I knew that getting over Aaliyah would be the hardest thing for me , considering how I was feeling right now . I didn't want to make myself suffer . I knew this time that it wasn't my fault this time , but it was my fault for putting myself through so much stress and pain .

But what did hurt me was the way Aaliyah acted . She knew how to put on an act in front of people . Aaliyah struggled with being bi polar . Sometimes she would be all over me and the next she would be crying and hitting me like I was the worst person in the world .

But I was going to get over her , one way or another .