I want you back..✔✔✔✔(Re-edited)

10.

Livia's POV

I had made up my mind long before I reached the tomb. Every step felt heavier than the last, like my soul was dragging me down toward a fate I didn't want but somehow couldn't avoid. Today, I was breaking two promises, the first was to Carter, who I had vowed I would never end my life; the second was to my mother, Aaron's mom. Before she passed, I had promised her with all my heart that I would protect Aaron, that I would never let anything happen to him, and that I would never leave him. But now, standing here, I knew that I was about to shatter both those promises in one tragic breath.

I sank to my knees by her grave, my tears falling freely onto the cold stone as I whispered through my sobs, "Mom, I'm sorry. I know you'll never forgive me for what I'm about to do, but I just can't lose him. I can't lose any of my loved ones." The pain was unbearable, the weight of my decision pressing down on me like an impossible burden. I sat there for a long while, staring at the tomb, trying to steel myself for what I was about to do.

Slowly, I rose and headed toward the hill behind the church. The wind stung my skin, cold creeping up my spine, making my heart pound with a mix of fear and surrender. I gazed down at the ground far below, my stomach twisting as the weight of what I was about to do sank in. But if this was the only way to protect Aaron, Dad, Annie, and Matt, if my death was the only way to stop the nightmare from tearing us apart, then I was ready to face it. I closed my eyes, drew in a deep breath, and began counting silently: one, two, three. Just as I leaned forward to let myself fall, strong hands gripped my waist, stopping me in mid-motion. I opened my eyes, startled, and saw Aaron, his face filled with anger and desperation.

I gasped, my tears spilling over again. "So you're really leaving me forever, huh? What a brilliant plan, Levi, absolutely beautiful," he said, his voice heavy with sarcasm, but his eyes betrayed the storm of emotion underneath. I couldn't speak; my throat was too tight, my heart too broken. He shouted at me, demanding to know why I was doing this, and I just cried, unable to find the words. When he yelled for an answer, I finally whispered, "I can't afford to lose you." That admission felt like tearing open a wound that never fully healed. Aaron's anger softened, and he stepped closer, his voice cracking with pain as he told me how selfish I was for thinking only about myself. "If you're not here, then I'm dead too," he said, and the truth of those words made me collapse to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.

He dropped to his knees beside me and pulled me into a tight embrace, holding me close and patting my back as if trying to reassure himself as much as me. "Don't leave me, Levi," he pleaded softly. "The day you left, I had the worst nightmare of my life. And now, knowing the truth, I don't want to lose you again." His thumb wiped away my tears gently as he held my face, his voice barely above a whisper. "Please don't be away from me. I can't imagine a life without you. If you thought that leaving would make me safe, you're wrong. You being away means my death." I screamed, "No," unable to hold back the pain any longer. And then, after years of heartache and silence, everything changed, we kissed. It was desperate and passionate, the kind of kiss that spoke of fear, love, and longing all at once. When we finally pulled apart, we looked at each other and smiled through our tears. He took my hand in his, sealing a silent promise. "I will be there with you through all the thick and thin," he said, kissing my hand gently.

&

We were in the car, the silence between us thick and heavy, broken only by the soft sound of our breathing. Suddenly, Aaron's phone rang. "You take it," he said without looking at me. I swallowed hard, my heart pounding. It was Carter. Aaron urged me, "Face it," and before I could refuse, the call was on speakerphone, pressed against my ear.

Carter's voice was urgent and relieved. "Aaron, thank God. What I said before isn't true. It's not her, but I'm still searching. Did—"

"I'm fine," I interrupted quickly, trying to steady my voice.

There was a pause on the line, then Carter spoke again, his tone heavy with frustration and pain. "You thought killing yourself was the easiest way to escape everything, huh? Didn't you even think of me or Aaron? I was there for you through everything, even hiding the truth from my best friend because I promised you. And this is what I get, betrayal. How could you even think of something like that?"

I swallowed the guilt that threatened to choke me. "I'm sorry," I said softly, "That was the only thing that came into my head at the time. I'm sorry."

Carter's voice softened slightly but still carried an edge of warning. "Next time, I'll make you swear on my life. If anything happens to you, then I'm dead too."

I laughed weakly. "Carter, are you mad, talking like that?"

"You get it now, don't you? How I felt," he replied.

"I'm sorry," I said again.

Carter chuckled, then winced. "And ow, guess what? Your husband here gave me a punch in the nose when he found out the truth. Still hasn't healed."

I glanced at Aaron, who looked amused but slightly confused. "Oh god, go get that treated right now," I said.

"I'm fine," Carter insisted.

"No, you're not," I said firmly. "I'm hanging up. Turn your car around and go to the hospital. They'll fix you up."

"Wow, just realizing hospitals treat us now? What a revelation," Carter teased.

"Shut up," I muttered, ending the call and smiling despite everything.

Aaron caught my smile and his full, genuine grin was a balm to my soul. I looked around and realized we were back home. Suddenly, I reached out and took Aaron's hand. He looked at me with concern.

"This has to stay between us," I said quietly, "No one else can know. That means Matt, Annie, Dad; no one."

Aaron nodded thoughtfully and kissed my cheek. I was about to open the car door when he pulled me back. I turned to him, confused.

"Um, about what you said..." he stammered, clearly uncomfortable.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

He took a deep breath. "You said you had a boyfriend, and—"

I cut him off quickly. "I didn't mean it. At the time, I just wanted you to hate me."

He smiled, relief flooding his face. His hand slid around my waist and we stepped inside together. In that moment, I just wanted to freeze time and hold onto this fragile happiness forever. But deep inside, a small voice whispered caution, reminding me that our struggles were far from over.