The sound of crumpled paper echoed off the walls of what use to be a home. As Shirley, walked past the sun stained walls she tried to ignore the sounds coming from beyond the long hallway.
She took no joy in hurting Tobin. She desperately wanted to open the door and wrap her arms around the defeated girl who spent her days crying. She knew that everyone thought this was easy for her, that leaving Tobin was what she wanted. She couldn't begin to explain why she was doing it, she just knew she had to.
Shirley reached for the door knob, but pulled back as she heard Tobin's sobs get louder. With a light tap on door she heard the girl shuffle around, "yea hold on."
For a moment Shirley changed her mind. She would take everything back, promise to make things right, keep her vows to the woman she loved. She loved Tobin. She loved Tobin enough to let her go. As the door opened Shirley held her breath, she'd never be ready to see Tobin hurting.
"Oh hey Shirley." Standing there Tobin hoped Shirley hadn't heard her cries. After the last argument she promised herself to never let her wife see her cry again.
"Hey Tobs, I uh I just came to help finish up." As she watched Tobin move to let her pass, she knew leaving was the right thing to do. She knew Tobin would always bend over backwards for her. Even when she was at her worse. And lately Shirley had been at her worse. She knew Tobin would stay if she told her why she acted the way she did. Angry, reckless, disappearing for days at a time.
"Wow. It's crazy seeing this place so empty."
"Yea. I put all your stuff by the wall over there. I hope you don't mind."
"Yea. No. Thanks. You didn't have to."
The two stood in a comfortable silence. Tobin wondering what Shirley was thinking. Why she seemed so much like herself. Like the Shirley she fell in love. Shirley thought of how happy they once were. How to tell Tobin what was happening with her. How she knew in this moment she loved Tobin, but she knew well enough to know that her feeling would change. She knew in a matter of minutes she would break. She would hate Tobin again with no explanation.
Shirley didn't want that for Tobin. She loved her enough to let her go.
YOU ARE READING
Bitter Sweet
FanfictionTobin's life hadn't gone where she imagined it would when she was a teenager. Standing at a crossroads in life she looks back at what was, what could have been, what is, and what could be. Will she ever find her way back to the love of her life? AU
