Is This The End? (Sequel to Till the End)

Heartache

Sammy's POV

"Yeah man? What's up?" Mack replies.

"It's Renee, how soon can you be over?" I run my hands through my hair.

"Give me 20 and I'll be over." He quickly hangs up the phone and I sigh.

And just about exactly 20 minutes later Mack comes through the door, always a man of his word.

"My man!" He greets me and we share our handshake.

"Hey bro, thanks for coming out."

"Yeah for sure! What's going on? I feel like I haven't seen you in years. Who's car is out front?" Mack sits at the kitchen buffet and I stand by the counter.

"Well, that's Renee's car..." Mack's eyes grow wide, "And this has to do with her." I nod.

"Lay it on me, I'm here brotha." Mack sits back and I tell him how often she's been coming over because of Jack cheating on her.

"It's just stupid! She keeps going back to him and I know that every time it hurts her so much more and she has a harder time going back to him! I just know it has to! But she keeps going back. Like, I think I understand the whole, "I'm married to him and we're gonna work this out and I love him," nonsense but I don't know, Mack. And when she comes over and cries her eyes out about a literal actual fuckboy that she some how MARRIED!!!! Which is beyond me still. But she comes over crying about Jack and it breaks my heart to a million pieces, every time. Are you aware of how many millions of pieces that is now? A DAMN LOT! She deserves so much better. I would never hurt her like that! She has such a kind and gentle heart, she deserves a man. Not some coward who has endless affairs and thinks he can just be forgiven every time! When is it going to end?" I just let out what I've been feeling in the past hour. "I love her, Mack. I have always loved her. And I just hate seeing her get hurt like this. I just want to love and protect her from all these terrible things." I hold my head in my hands and we sit in silence.

"Wow.... I don't even know what to say, man. I've never seen you like this, or her. Definitely not her, but man. You really do love her." Mack shakes his head.

"And I know she's going to ask me what to do. She always does, and I can't just tell her to leave him for me. She would literally lose her mind. But I'm not going to tell her to forgive Jack and go back to him! What kind of friend would I be if I did that??? I don't know what to do.."

"Sam, I seriously have no clue. I wish I had some awesome wise advice but honestly. You love her, and it's her choice to let go of Jack. Which I know she's loved him endlessly since as long as I knew her. And I think that will be the hardest thing for her. All she knows is Jack. She's spent a huge part of her life, if not all of her life with him. He knows her better than anyone. And she knows everything about him, they were perfect for each other. When she loves, she loves so hard and so much and I know the love she has for him is nearly unbreakable. But with that said, the cheating and lying can totally take away that love piece by piece. I know that has to hurt hearing that, but I know Renee. And I know that it's practically impossible for her to make decisions on her own without heavy influencing and thinking about every possible outcome and what will please everybody. She is a people pleaser, and she wants to make people happy, and then it's her. You need to talk to her and tell her honestly what you think."

"Thank you, Mack. I'll just let her know that I'm here for her when she wants to talk and leave that door open for her." I can't bear this at all.

"Exactly, just be open and she'll come to you when she's ready. She trusts you Sammy, don't let her down. She's really broken, so be careful but don't take advantage of her weakness. Be there for her and be strong so she can lean on you. She'll notice that and it will mean something to her. She's a good girl, and it's such a shame that Jack has turned out this way." Mack stands up and I see him to the door.

We shake hands and hug each other, I thank him for talking and we make plans to catch up. And the possibility of Renee hanging out with us, just like old times. Mack leaves and there is just so much on my mind. I can't handle all of the uncertainty, so I find a whiskey bottle and pour a glass. I can't put her in a position to choose me or Jack. And I don't what she's feeling. I just want her to be happy. 

I pour another glass and head up to my room, I walk past her room and poke my head in there. She's sound asleep, just beautiful. I back out of her room and continue to my room. 

When I wake up in the morning I realized that I don't want to hurt Renee or make her choose something she'll regret. I love her but it's best for me to stay out of it. Walking out of my room I hear Renee's tv on. I tap on the door and she lets me in. I tell her that she can talk to me whenever she'd like and she nods. But I know she won't want to talk so soon.

As I am half way out the door, I hear her mumble my name. I turn my head and she's sitting there. Her hair is frizzy and all over the place, she has pillow imprints on her face, and sleepiness in her eyes. She nods her head at me, wanting me to come back in and sit next to her. So I oblige the sweet girl, and she rests her head on my shoulder. I snake my arm around her and she moves her head to my chest.

Her heartache is my heartache, and there is nothing I can do about it. She's perfect, and so kind. Any guy would be lucky to have her. She's just something special.