In The End (Sequel to In Real Life - Nemi)

Stay

I didn't even know what to say to her. She looked at me with such sadness in her eyes, I felt like my own heart was breaking. To think I caused this was excruciating. I had never hated myself so badly before. I took a deep breath as I watched Demi throw more of her things into the suitcase. I decided to play dumb.

"You were supposed to stay at Marissa's. What happened?" I asked in a quiet voice.

Demi wiped at her eyes as she stopped moving to look at me. "I wasn't feeling good, so I came home."

"Are you okay?" I asked, trying to pretend I didn't shatter her heart into a million pieces a few minutes earlier.

"I had a stomach ache & then got a headache. I'll live. Now I have a heart ache to go along with it. Big day for me." She said, sarcastically, turning back to her suitcase. I could see her chin trembling.

There is nothing worse than a woman crying, in my eyes, but when you're the reason for her tears, it's pure torture. I still had no idea what to say to her. I couldn't make it better. I couldn't say that I didn't mean it, because she would know I was lying. "Demi, I'm sorry." That was the only thing I could think of, right now. I was sorry. I was sorry I lied. I was sorry I hurt her. I was sorry she overheard.

Her head snapped around to glare at me. "You're sorry? For what? Marrying me? Lying to me?" She squeezed her eyes shut & stomped her foot. "I asked you over & over if you had regrets or if you even really loved me & you lied every time I asked you." She was practically yelling, mixed with crying. Not a good sound.

I took a few steps toward her, cautiously. "I know & I'm so sorry. I just didn't want to hurt you."

"You didn't want to hurt me?!" She screamed, then let a sob come out. "Were you just going to pretend to be in love with me for the rest of our lives? Maybe you were hoping I'd die & then you'd be free, finally." She was sobbing, hard.

"Don't say that. I'd never hope for that. I do love you, Demi."

Demi put her hand up. "Yea. you love me as your best friend. Got it." She turned around again, her shoulders shaking as she cried. All I wanted to do was put my arms around her, but that wouldn't make things better. It would just confuse both of us even more. If that was even possible. "I'll be out of here in a few minutes. I'll go home to my apartment. I'll get the paperwork started for a no fault divorce or a dissolution or something..." her voice trailed off.

I went to her side. "This is your home, Demi. Stay."

She looked at me, her forehead creased. "Stay? Are you kidding? Why would I stay here?"

"Because I do love you."

Demi groaned, loudly, looking up to the ceiling, her hands clenched into fists. "Stop saying that you love me!" She screamed, her voice cracking.

"Okay. I'm sorry. But please just stay. We'll talk all night if you want. I will tell you everything I'm feeling. Maybe it will help me get passed everything that I went through with Olivia & finally move on."

Demi shook her head, frowning as she sucked in her bottom lip. "No. It's too late. I heard everything you said, Nick. I know you only married me because I was pregnant. I know you lied to me when I asked you if you had doubts about us getting married. I know you aren't in love with me & probably never will be. So just go live your life & we'll forget this marriage even happened." She turned & walked to her dresser to take some things from the drawers.

"Demi, I don't want to forget our marriage happened. I was talking to my friend about things I should have talked to you about, so let's just talk & share everything we're feeling. Please stay, so we can talk about this... about us... about our future."