Brayden's POV
Senior year came and went, my love for Sophia never dwindling. We didn't get to see eachother as much, what with college visits, schoolwork, and football and dance, but we made it work. In the end we decided to go to the same college together, and as soon as fall arrived we enrolled and took classes.
"Brayden thanks so much, this was really sweet out you" Sophia said to me.
I had taken her out to a fancy Italian restaurant to celebrate our 3 year anniversary, I just wanted tonight to be perfect, and I also had a surprise up my sleeve which would seal the evening.
"A special night for a special girl." I replied back smiling.
You could always count on me for cheesy lines.
The waiter arrived with our bill and I paid quickly, whisking Sophia out of the restaurant. I took her hand and guided her down a flight of steps on the side of the restaurant that led to the riverwalk, then walked along the moonlit path alongside the bubbling river. We continued hand in hand in a comfortable silence for a few minutes before Sophia stopped me.
"Brayden... I need to tell you something" Her lack of comfort at the situation apparent.
"Yeah baby what is it?" I replied with curiosity in my voice.
Her voice had sounded worried, and a bit scared. What was going on?
"Well..." She started."I don't know how to put this... so I'm just going to say it. I think because of certain circumstances in my life at the moment, it would be best if we took a break."
Sophia quickly looked down as if she were to scared to speak the words out loud herself, like saying that had been a hard feat for her.
An awkward silence filled the air for a couple seconds, I hadn't really comprehended those foreign words yet. She wanted what? What was going on?
Shit. Oh fucking shit. She had to be joking, this had to be some kind of sick fucking joke. It felt as if my heart had completely exploded, had she led me on? Why was she doing this, we loved each other!
I have always had nightmares of this happening to me, but I never allowed myself to truly think about what would happen if we were ever to split, the thought was just to harsh.
I couldn't speak, I couldn't even feel the ground beneath me. I didn't even realize I had yanked my hands out of Sophia's but I do know all of the sudden they felt cold and empty.
"Brayden say something!" Sophia pleaded.
She had tears streaming down her face.
"Say something!!" She screamed.
"Sophia.. how could you do this to me? Tell me why!"
She looked at me. "Brayden, somethings are just better off you not knowing, but trust me, this is my only option. I can't do anything about it, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."
Sophia was crying so hard, her whole body was convusling with sobs.
Tears leaked out of my eyes and landed on the concrete below.
"Sophia... I don't know what happened or why you did this, and even if your love wasn't real, mine sure as heck was." And then I added. "And it always will be."
With that I slipped my hand into my pocket, gave Sophia the box I had retrieved, looked into her eyes one last time, then turned and walked away.
Even though her love for me had failed, that promise ring concealed in the box I had just given her could not deny the promise of my love I would never fail to have for her.
