Until my Last Breath

97

The air is thick. Too thick. It's suffocating.

He finally speaks, voice rough like gravel. "I didn't know you were coming."

I stare straight ahead, arms crossed, trying to keep it together. "It wasn't exactly planned."

He shifts beside me, like he wants to say something else. I can feel the weight of his hesitation-his breath catching, his hand twitching at his side. But I don't give him the grace. I stay silent.

My heart is hammering in my chest. I can hear it, feel it in my temples. I hate this. I hate how much I still care. I hate how just being next to him sets my blood on fire and my bones to ice.

And then-
He scoffs. "Didn't know you were friends with Jude now."

I blink, caught off guard, and finally glance at him, letting out a breathy, sarcastic laugh. "Seriously?"

"What?" he says, arms folding across his chest now. "I'm just asking."

"Why do you care?" I fire back, turning to face him fully now, heat creeping up my neck. "You moved on in less than a week after you left me. Or was I just a pit stop?"

His jaw clenches. "You think this is easy for me?"

My eyebrows shoot up. "Oh, no. Please." I shake my head, lips curling bitterly. "Tell me-what part of this is so hard for you? The kisses? The parading around the city? Or her throwing herself at you on every red carpet?"

He's getting angry now. I can see it in his eyes, how they darken with every word. "You're acting like you've had it worse. Like you didn't just sign a dream contract with Ferrari."

The words hit me like a slap.

I blink once. Then again.

And suddenly, I'm trembling.

Tears spill before I can stop them. My voice lowers, cold and broken. "You think this is easy for me?"

I laugh, but there's no joy in it. Just pain.

"You think I'm happy?" I whisper. "I almost died, Gavi. In the one place I feared the most. I could barely breathe. I couldn't feel my arm. I was alone in a hospital bed in Japan wondering if you'd show up-and you didn't."

The elevator dings.

The doors begin to slide open.

It's like the universe is mocking me.

I start to step out, throat burning, hands shaking, eyes stinging with tears I can't control anymore. But suddenly-

His hand catches my arm.

The wrong one.

White-hot pain shoots through my shoulder and I yelp, stumbling back against the mirrored wall, clutching it instantly. "Fuck-Gavi!"

He freezes, eyes wide. "Shit-Rita, I didn't-"

But I'm already breaking.

Shattered.

Right there in front of him.

Because I can't take this anymore. Not the pain. Not the silence. Not him.

Not when I gave him everything.
Not when he still has everything.

He reaches for me-his hand outstretched, eyes wide with panic, guilt, something. I don't care.

"Don't," I breathe, stepping back, clutching my shoulder. My voice shakes. "Don't touch me."

And then it all comes spilling out. Not in pieces. Not in whispers. But like a flood that's been building behind a dam too cracked to hold anymore.