Present
"FUCK, STUPID FUCKING STREAMERS!!!!!"
Rose paused by the door of her boyfriend's office, before knocking quietly, "Lan? Are you okay? It's 4am, come to bed."
"Oh my GOD, Rose, just go to bed without me, you're so fucking needy." He rubbed his eyes with his hand and groaned, "Fuck."
"Goodnight." Rose shut the door a tad harder than necessary and headed down the hallway to another lonesome, sleepless night in bed.
She never slept well without Lannan and bruised feelings rarely settled her anxiety. Grabbing a blanket as she walked past the bed, she stepped out to the balcony and sat down.
On nights like this, when the stress got to him and he lashed out, she often found herself alone on the balcony in tears.
Clutching the fuzzy throw around her shoulders, she let a few tears fall. Things with her and Lannan used to be a dream, a golden tinted, love filled, magical wonderland. What happened to that?
The night had a restless feel to it, not allowing her to relax. A sob forced its way out of her throat and she knew what it was she had to do. Rose couldn't take a single day more in this house so she grabbed a pen and starting scribbling away.
Dear Lannan,
Thank you for the past year and a half. I've never felt this way about someone in my entire life. At first, I really thought that you and I were meant to make it. It has become glaringly obvious that you can't give me what I need. I love you so damn much and this is breaking my heart. Please don't try to contact me, if I want to talk to you, I will contact you. I need you to give me the space I need.
I'm sorry,
Rose
When the note was folded and placed on the bedside table, Rose unclasped the simple rose gold necklace that hung around her neck and gently set it on top. She finished packing her clothing and shoes, then looked around at the room one more time before turning off the light and shutting the door quietly.
Rose snuck past Lannan's office, pausing in front of the door, her hand poised to knock. The phone in her pocket chimed, indicating her Uber driver was waiting and with that reminder of what she was about to do.
She picked up her bags, dropped her house key on the kitchen counter and disappeared into the muggy night.
A few hours later, Lannan emerged from his cave of an office, not yet knowing the love of his life had left him in the night. Shamefully, he'd later admit that he was so exhausted that he fell into bed and didn't realize Rose was gone until he woke up at 3:23pm.
It was normal for her to already be at work by 7am and the only time he saw her on update days was the evening after.
When he did finally realize she was gone, it wasn't when he reached for his toothbrush and noticed hers wasn't there. It wasn't when he walked into the kitchen and there was no coffee in the pot or dishes in the sink. He didn't even notice her key sitting innocently on the counter.
It was when he opened the closet door and the scent of her perfume was the only thing of hers left inside.
Time slowed then, or so it seemed, as he stood there looking, a tight feeling in his chest as reality crashed around him.
It's all a blur after that.
He turned to look at the bedside table and saw her necklace shining brightly as the sunlight hit it, on top of the note that would change everything.
He would forever remember that his last words to her had been full of frustration and downright mean-spirited.
Those words would haunt him until he saw her again.
