(Y/N) had been practicing how she would tell him in the mirror for the past three hours while he had been at the studio. At this point she felt like she had perfected it. As she was going through it one last time, she heard the front door open and shut. It was now or never, there was no more pushing this off. (Y/N) didn't know what finally pushed it as today being the day, maybe it was the new rumor she had seen online. Maybe it was the fact some of the fans had begun to notice. Whatever it was, it would be over today, the relationship she had been wanting to be over for the past month would finally be done after two and a half years.
"(Y/N), you in here?" She hears him call from the bedroom.
"Yeah. Mike," (Y/N) said as she walked out gaining his attention to the doorway, "Can we talk?" He looks hesitant but slowly nods and makes his way towards the bed. She takes a deep breath and sits opposite of him, before standing up again. She didn't think she could sit for this.
"Is everything okay?" He asks.
"Yes. No. I don't know. Michael I," He looks up at the use of his full name knowing she only used it when mad or in serious situations. After struggling for a moment, the words began to flow easily. "Look, I know that you know as well as I do we haven't been ourselves for months now at this point. We aren't what we used to be and it's no surprise that this would eventually happen. I think it would be best if we end it now before we end up actually hating each other, you know? While we can still be civil and rational."
"(Y/N), what are you talking about? We're fine." He says, although we both can tell he doesn't fully believe it.
"See that's just one example, Mike, we can't keep lying to ourselves and acting like everything is perfect. It's not. You haven't called me babe or any form of pet name for months, we never go on dates, hell we barely ever even see each other anymore. The love isn't there like it used to be, and even the fans have started to notice so don't say that it's just in my head. It's fine Mike, really. I've accepted it. You can too." She says trying to get him to understand.
"No (Y/N). We're fine and so is everything else. I wish you would just let it go!" He yells as he starts to leave the room.
"Where are you going? Mike you can't just ignore this!"
"Out. Don't wait up!" He yells before slamming the front door shut.
"This is what I mean." She mumbles to the echo of the empty house. She slowly walks back upstairs and begins to pack her things into boxes she brought out from storage. After packing up everything from the bathroom and dressers she moves to the closet. (Y/N) goes to pull something down from the shelf above and suddenly a box falls to the ground. She bends down to collect the spilled belongings, the first of which is a photo album. She turns it over seeing it had opened up to a page, instantly making her eyes shine over. It was the photo of them on their one year anniversary. The boys had snuck there to take it. Michael had set up a table with fairy lights and a whole dinner his mom helped him prepare at their place. The place she had no idea he was sitting at now as she continued to reminisce through their box of memories.
Michael was sat on the hood of his car watching as the sun set on the lake, just like they had done for their one year anniversary. The night he swore he would never forget. The night he fell in love with the girl who wanted to leave him now. He wasn't mad that she wanted to leave, he couldn't be when he knew everything she said was right. That was one of the things that drove him crazy when they first met, she was always right and he was wrong. Just like now. He was mad at himself for allowing her the reason to be right. He had let their relationship wither to the point it was now. He had let her slip away right before his eyes. He knew it was happening and he did nothing to stop it. She truly did deserve better and that was the part that hurt the most, the fact his worst fear was coming true. He always thought she deserved more and was afraid he wouldn't be able to give it to her. He tried so hard to be everything she needed, but he knew it would never have been enough. He knew he wasn't as good as she deserved. He hoped one day she would find it. But for that night, looking across the lake, he imagined a universe in which their story had a happy ending. Then as the early hours of morning came and the sun began to rise, he accepted it. He accepted that this what they needed in order for their happy ending to exist and with a hope for their futures, he headed home.
