P R O L O G U E
“Claire?” An all-too-familiar voice quavered as he said my name. I lifted my head to see his watery eyes that held too many emotions to even read.
This is truly killing me, but my mind kept telling me that this was for the best.
“Claire, this is some joke, right?” He tried to smile in between his streaming tears and let out a laugh, blinking rapidly. His hand went through his hair and closed his eyes, trying to convince himself that he saw was just a work of his imagination. My own tears betrayed me as I let out a quiet sob, but I still tried to keep on a straight face. This was for the better, I thought.
He cried, “Claire, please!” His pained voice echoed in the empty halls and right then I know that I might regret this. “Tell me, this is just some sick prank, please,” He begged, making me want to stop everything I was doing and just run to him.
I’m sorry Calum.
“No, Calum,” I choked out, my voice cracking at the mention of his name. “Calum,” I sucked in a sharp breath as I prepared myself for the following words to come. “We’re over. I don’t love you anymore.” The whole time, my eyes were fixated on the tiled floor, not wanting to see his pained expression because I know he would see right through me. He knows me too much.
He let out a humourless laugh, “Come on, Claire. I know that’s not true, stop this already. It’s not funny anymore.” I felt a hand on my shoulder, I looked up seeing that it was Logan, I almost forgot that he was even there. I was too caught up on pondering whether to continue this or not. “You heard her, Calum. She doesn’t love you anymore, so back off,” He spat.
“Don’t go come in between this, Griffo,” Calum growled instantly, accusingly pointing at Logan. Logan almost lunged at him, but I held his shoulder firmly and stopped him. “Claire, let go of him, now!” Calum growled once again, but I didn’t budge. I almost thank God loudly when I saw Luke running from the opposite hallway, ready to grab Calum.
“Calum, please,” I heaved out a breath I didn’t remember that I was even holding, “Don’t make this any harder for me. I don’t love you anymore!” Tears continuously streamed down my face, but I still didn’t dare to look at his piercing gaze. As I was ready to say it again, he immediately cut me off.
“Stop lying, Claire!” He yelled, he was still refusing to believe anything. “I know that’s not true! Please, stop this!” He tried his best to break from Luke’s strong grasp around his arms, but Luke just held on tighter. I let out another sob while Logan wrapped an arm around me to comfort me. But nothing will comfort me right now, I’m lying straight in Calum’s face that I don’t love him anymore, nothing will make everything okay.
“I’m not lying, Calum! I don’t love you anymore!” I yelled back. Multiple emotions started to pulse through me, my heart was racing terribly, and my knees are far too weak to even stand on my own. I never imagined a day that I would tell Calum that I don’t love him anymore, but I have to do this for him. I’ll just keep that in my head the whole time.
“If you don’t, say it to my face, Claire! Look at me!” I still refused to look straight him in eyes and clenched tighter into Logan’s shirt. I can’t do this anymore. “Claire, look at me!” He screamed. I inhaled sharply, giving my all to look at his face, but I quickly regretted it. He looked so broken, so vulnerable. I have never seen him like this, and it tears my heart more every second I look at him. I have to stop this.
“Now tell me, Claire. Tell me that you don’t freaking love me anymore straight into my face!” My breathing was irregular, sharply taking in and out air. I can’t do this, I can’t do this, I can’t do this.
“I don’t love you anymore, Calum,” That’s when my world broke down, completely crashing and down to my shoulders in a million heavy pieces. He shook off Luke’s grip, not breaking our eye contact. “That‘s all I needed to hear,” With that he walked away, not even daring to look back.
I finally let loose of my grip on Logan’s shirt and slid down on to the cold floor and broke down into uncontrollable sobs. “I love you, Calum.” I try to say to take back everything I said to him, to tell him the truth, but I was too late. He’s gone.
