Carry Me Home

Thirty-Five

Evelyn

"He's been weird for a month, Haydie. After Grace's death anniversary he hasn't been the same; he just sulks everywhere." I said after not being able to concentrate on packing.

"Have you guys had a date recently?"

"We haven't been on a date in two months. He wasn't even happy about the fact he got 87% on his final exam."

"The funny thing about Rowan is that he's training to be a psychiatrist, yet he refuses to visit one for help."

"I'm worried about him." When Hayden noticed that I wasn't laughing along with him he closed his suitcase and slid his arm around my shoulder and pulled me into him. I sighed into his chest and he patted my head sympathetically.

"Just give him time, Evie. Rowan is a stubborn person so it'll take time for him to be normal again, so just be patient."

"If only being patient was that easy."

"Patience is virtue, my dear friend." I rolled my eyes and chucked my shirt at him. 

xxx

"Row!" I yelled as I spotted him outside the Medical department. He turned his head at the mention of his name but didn't walk towards me like he usually did. His expression was one of boredom and tiredness, nothing like the excitement he tends to have when we spend time together. I ran over to him and wrapped my arms around his neck. I pecked his mouth but he didn't kiss back. "How're you today?"

"I'm fine, but could you please stop swinging on me?" Rowan asked, reaching behind his neck and removing my hold on him. 

"Oh... do you want to do anything today?" I said, still trying to remain as optimistic as possible to raise his mood. 

"I'm tired, Evelyn."

"I always find it weird whenever you call me by my name." I slipped my hand into his as we began walking yet there was still no response. "Rowan, what's wrong?" I sighed and turned around to stop him in his path. 

"There's nothing wrong, Evelyn."

"It's funny how many times I've heard that over these past months. Why're you being like this, Rowan? You say you're tired but I'm fed up of putting up a smile on my face for the both of us because you haven't bothered to do your half of the work to be in a relationship."

"Then let's break up because I certainly can't carry another burden on my shoulders." And just with one sentence he murdered every piece of hope I had left for us. My grip on his hand loosened and I stepped back to look at him properly.

"I'm a burden now?"

"If you keep acting like this then yes, you are."

"Look me in the damn eye, Rowan, and tell me you want to break up." He lifted his head and met my eyes. Blue to green. There was no emotion in his eyes, nothing to indicate that he was even remotely affected by what he just said.

"I want us to break up."

"Care to explain?" There was still that small shattered piece of hope in my heart that he'd take whatever he said back but he didn't. 

"You and I just can't work anymore, Evelyn. I'm just exhausted and being in a relationship right now is too much stress to handle."

"What part of our relationship is stressful, Rowan?" my tone went up a few decibels. My fingers raked through my hair but the wind pushed it back to its original position. 

"Evelyn, we're done. I don't need to clarify a reason for why this relationship is over."

"BUT I FUCKING LOVE YOU, YOU SHIT!" no matter how much I was breaking internally I kept myself strong and refused to let him see me cry. "You're giving up this easily? I let you into my life and I supported you through everything you did but now I'm a burden? A fucking burden! You have the audacity to say I'm a burden."