King Von Imagines

Not Ready to Lose You

Word Count ~899
Should I continue this one?
Aaliyah sat on the edge of the bed, her body still but her mind racing. Her phone was blowing up — texts, DMs, screenshots. Girls she didn't even know tagging her in posts like they wanted her to see. Like they wanted to break her heart.

"Girl, this your man?"
"Couldn't be me, sis."
"Von outside acting real single."

She gripped the phone tighter, chest burning. Her man. The same man who laid in this bed just last night, whispering that she was his peace, his home.

But now? Now he was out, in some club, a girl in his lap like Aaliyah never existed.

The key turned in the lock. Door swung open. Von's voice, loud and carefree, filled the apartment.
"Ayy, bro, I'mma holla at you later."
The door shut behind him. Silence.

"LiLi?" he called out, a slight slur in his voice. "Where you at, baby?"

Aaliyah didn't answer. She couldn't. Her throat was too tight, tears she fought all night threatening to spill over.

Von walked into the room, grinning — until he saw her.
Her eyes were red, makeup smudged like she'd been crying for hours.

His smile fell. "LiLi... what's wrong? You good?"

She finally looked up at him, and the look in her eyes made his stomach drop.

"Don't do that," she said quietly, voice hoarse. "Don't act like you don't know."

Von froze. "Know what?"

She let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head. "You think I'm stupid? You think people ain't send me that video? You out here letting some girl all up on you like I ain't the one that be holding you down every damn day?"

Von sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "LiLi, it's not even like that. I wasn't on nothin'. I was chillin'—"

"Stop lying to me!" she yelled suddenly, standing up, her hands shaking. "I saw you, Von! You wasn't just 'chillin.' You was grinning in her face like she was me."

The way her voice broke made his heart shatter.
He tried to reach for her, but she pulled away.

"Nah, don't. Don't touch me right now."

Von's chest rose and fell, trying to find words. "LiLi... you know I love you. I wasn't thinking. I got drunk. I wasn't tryna hurt you, I swear."

She wiped her face roughly. "But you did hurt me, Von. And you keep doing it. Every time I start to believe you different, you remind me why I shouldn't."

Von's voice cracked as he stepped closer. "Don't say that. Don't talk like you done with me."

Aaliyah looked away, tears slipping down her cheeks. "Maybe I should be."

Those words hit Von like a punch to the chest. "Aaliyah, please. Baby, please... don't say that. You know what I been through. You the only one that make me wanna do better."

She shook her head, frustrated. "Then why don't you? Why you gotta wait 'til I'm in tears to act like you care? You don't get to break me down and then beg me to stay like it's all good."

Von's eyes filled with tears now, voice trembling. "Because I don't know how to be without you. I'm tryna get it right, I swear to God, LiLi. I know I ain't perfect — I know I'm a fuck up. But please... please don't leave me."

She turned to him, voice softer but still full of pain. "You say that every time. But what about me, Von? Who picks me up when you break me like this? Who makes sure I'm good when you out doing you?"

Von stepped closer, this time falling to his knees in front of her.

"Me. I'm supposed to. And I ain't been doing right. But I'm begging you, LiLi... don't give up on me. I need you."

Aaliyah stared down at him, her strong, fearless man, now crumbling at her feet.

"You don't get it..." she whispered, voice breaking. "I love you so much it hurts. And that's what kills me — because you know I'll always take you back. And you use that against me."

Von reached up, gently grabbing her hands. "Not no more. I'll do whatever you say. I'll stay home. I'll cut everybody off. I'll change my number. Whatever it take to keep you."

Tears streamed down both their faces now.

"I'm scared, Von..." she admitted, her walls finally breaking. "I'm scared I'm gon' love you so much I lose myself."

Von stood, pulling her into his arms, holding her tighter than ever.

"Then let me love you enough to fix this. Let me love you enough to make you feel safe again."

Aaliyah buried her face in his chest, crying harder than she ever had.

"I don't wanna leave you, Von... but you gotta give me a reason to stay. I can't fight for us by myself."

Von pressed his lips to her forehead, voice low and raw. "I'm gonna fight for you, baby. I swear. I'm gonna show you I'm worth it. Just... please don't go."

They stood like that for a long time — two broken souls, clinging to the only thing they knew: each other.

Because in the end, love like theirs wasn't easy. It was messy, it was painful, but it was real.

And sometimes, real love means fighting through the pain — even when it hurts.

    "I'm not ready to lose you, LiLi... not now, not ever."

⸻