Heart Of Stone - Male!Medusa

Broken

It had taken hard work and years of almost constant practice and grueling effort to pass the college classes I had signed up for. Tens of thousands of dollars had been spent on getting the education I needed, money that was from both after-school jobs and loans I would be spending even more years paying off if I was lucky, but it had been worth it. It would always be worth it to me.

I had met the man of my dreams early on in my college years, one who made me feel like I could do anything, be anything that I wanted. All I had to do was try. With him at my side, the years of college had passed quickly, soon finding myself standing before the building that held within it my future. All I needed was to go through the door in front of me and pass the interview. Easy-peasy, right?

Feeling a hand grasp mine and give a gentle squeeze, I looked over at Tomas, his encouraging smile making me feel at ease again as I let out a shaky breath. Giving me a quick hug, he turned me back towards the door and put his hands on my back, a soft push starting my walk forward.

"You can do this, (y/n). I know you can. So go and show them what you're made of!" I felt my heart swell at his words, suddenly ready to take on the world if it would let me see that same proud smile he'd given me on graduation day.

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Three years of working for that same company and I was still as happy with the job I held as I had been the day I got it. Three years with Tomas beside me, showering me with praise at each raise and promotion I had attained. Three years of living together before I found myself looking dazed at the man who was on bent knee before me, asking me to spend the rest of my life with him, nearly begging me to say yes when I was quiet for too long before the shock wore off.

"Oh, Tomas, yes! A million times yes! I feel so happy!" I sobbed out, joyous tears gathering in my eyes before trailing down my cheeks while I looked upon the man I wanted to spend forever with.

I stood there smiling as he placed the thin, gold band around my finger, a single diamond sparkling in the light as a pair of smaller gems rested beside it. I'd never realized how lovely my birthstone could look until I saw the two sitting so innocently on each side of the diamond.

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We planned to wait before holding the wedding, hoping to celebrate our first day of marriage enjoying the start of summer rather than the chill that winter was soon to bring. Tomas refused to tell me where we were going, but every time I asked, he would just get this big grin on his face and act like he held all the best secrets of the world.

So it was that I worked longer hours, hoping to bring in some extra money so we could truly enjoy ourselves on our honeymoon, regardless of where we went. I knew Tomas had enough money saved for the trip but I couldn't help wanting to be able to spoil him as much as he always seemed to spoil me, seeing this as my chance to show him just how much he meant to me.

This was my chance to show him how much I loved him. To go beyond simply telling him how much I had appreciated the constant support he gave me, how he never looked down on me for something I didn't know or didn't see in the same manner as he did. I could finally show how much it meant to me that he was always willing to listen to my side and try to find common middle ground instead of either "agreeing to disagree" or marking it as a topic never to be discussed again like I had seen some couples do.

Hearing the beginnings of the song that I always associated with the day Tomas and I first met, I glanced over just long enough to see his name flashing on the screen of my cellphone. Looking back to the road, I reached over to where I knew my phone was resting, grabbing it and bringing it to rest on the steering wheel as I slid my thumb across the screen before pressing the button to place it on speaker.