Not All Skin And Bones

"Hearts Do Break"

We continued to drive past deli and bus stops until finally reaching an intersection that signaled for us to hit our breaks. The radio was pumping and I swayed softly to the beat of the bass, however, as I looked out the window, I noticed a familiar figure. Dressed oddly, and standing shyly it was-

"Jack?" I questioned/thought out loud.

Nate was tapping casually against the steering wheel. As he noticed my disbelief, he also turned to look the same way as me. His jaw dropped in slight shock and fell away from the pursed lip appearance he had once before. "Holy-"

We both stared at Jack who had his head down and a sloppy stance, he looked absolutely exhausted. I looked to Nate who shrugged in marvel, he hadn't the slightest clue in what to do, but that wasn't good enough for me. I couldn't take this, I couldn't just sit here and watch him suffer with his thoughts.

I let out a sharp breathe before deciphering the good and the bad of my next decision. I couldn't doubt myself, because doubt made people cowardly. "Nate I-" I began, "ugh." I huffed and threw my hand to the restrictions that elf me safely in this chair. I didn't bother to finish my sentence or even finish my exasperated eye roll, because as soon as I clicked off my seatbelt, I was out the car door and into halted traffic. Nate began to roll down the window and call out to me.

"Lizzie- Liz! DAMMIT. LIZZIE." His tone was aggravated. "Lizzie what the hell?!"

I held my arms out to warn cars of my obvious risk for being out in open road. "Sorry, sorry, 'xcuse me- sorry- stay in your cars, please- sorry."

It seemed like an eternity before nearing the sidewalk, cars honking, drivers flaring with rage and insults with every tone of speech and cursing. It was too late to turn back now.

"Jack!" I called. He seemed to be in a trance; a dark state of mind. "Jack! It's Lizzie! Daniella's friend!"

With that, he looked up at me with bloodshot eyes. I hadn't realized from a distance how broken he was, his demeanor implied heartache, but I didn't think he'd be this devastated.

I finally reached him and turned him towards me with both hands on either side of his forearms. My head tilted to mirror his so that he would look me in the eye. His head was hung heavily and I could literally picture the noose that began to loop round his throat. He continued to turn his gaze and cringe and I continued to bob and weave in attempt to match contact with him.

"Jack? Jack! Please look at me- tell me what's wrong."

He whimpered and grimaced, his teeth slammed together desperately in an attempt to hold back sobs. "Oh, Jack." I sighed and pulled him into my embrace. He drenched my shirt in tears. I could feel his pain seep into me and his breathing was shaky and uneven. He spoke words I didn't understand, but maybe that's just the way he cried.

He couldn't breath, he inhaled with a sharp wheeze and exhaled unsteadily. I knew the grieve he was feeling, he couldn't feel a thing but pain. A knot formed tightly within my throat as I held him closely in my arms. I stroked his hair and rubbed his back, I wanted to hold him together, I would not let him fall to pieces, I would not let him shatter before me. Jack Antonoff would not be breaking today, but to be frankly honest with you- I couldn't breathe either.

...

Please take the time to vote and comment :( I feel like nobody cares about this story anymore :( anyways- love ya! xx