How He Broke

A Bitter Reality (Matty's POV)

I woke up early the next morning, Sage on my mind. I knew I had fucked up. Tate's words had really hit me deep.

I knew I didn't deserve, Sage. But she was the only person on this earth that made me feel even semi-human. I knew that I could be mean sometimes, and say shit I didn't really mean. I knew that I've been known to overreact on occasion, but this feeling deep in my stomach was unlike anything I've ever felt before. The guilt, the sadness, hearing Tate tell me that Sage sobbed herself onto the floor, a mess in his arms because of me, I felt like the biggest asshole on the face of the earth.

I had never intended on hurting her that bad. I never meant to cause that much pain upon her. Make her a little jealous sure, but never cause her to cry herself into exhaustion.

There was only one thing I knew to do to try and make up for it.

I got dressed immediately after getting out of bed, sneaking out down the stairs past my sleeping father. I couldn't handle a verbal attack from him, not this early in the morning at least. I carefully stepped over certain spots on the floor that I knew would creak, not putting too much of my weight down as I made my way past him; I was way too good at this having been forced to adapt and sneak around him so I didn't have to suffer any consequences of his foulness.

Once to the door, I opened it only slightly, slipping out without a single noise. I was extra careful as I shut it.

I let out a soft sigh of relief once I had managed to get out safely. Walking over to my motorcycle I kicked up the kickstand, pushing it down the driveway and far enough down the road I was sure that my father wouldn't hear it start up.

Once far enough away I swung my leg over, straddling it before turning the key and starting the engine, smiling to myself as it came to life beneath me.

I rode out into town. The sun hadn't even started coming up yet, and I enjoyed the silent ride.

I couldn't stop thinking about Sage, and how terrible I've been to her since my mother had passed. I was just scared. Scared that if I got too close I'd lose her too. I couldn't lose her. She had always been there for me. Supported me when I could hardly stand, and even when I shoved her away she always stayed right there beside me. I didn't deserve her.

Once I had reached my destination I was happy to see that they were open. I turned off my motorcycle, setting up the kickstand before swinging my leg back over to get off.

This was Sage's favorite flower shop, the only one in a hundred mile radius that sold her favorite flower, Violets.

Thankfully, the owners of the shop always opened before sunrise, preparing for the day.

I still remember the first time Sage brought me here. I smiled at the thought, allowing myself to slip back to the memory that took place in the seventh grade.

"Here we are!" Sage cheered, still holding on tightly to my hand from having dragged me all the from way three blocks away.

"A flower shop?" I spoke, my tone coming across more annoyed than I had intended as I gave her an frown.

"Not just any flower shop!" She smiled wide, "This is a SPECIAL flower shop." She emphasized, causing me to roll my eyes. What made a flower shop so "special"? They all sold the same old boring flowers didn't they?

"Come on!" She smiled, pulling me inside.

My eyes grew wide upon entering, seeing the vast arrangements of flowers, some I had never seen before in my life.

"Woah." I said, suddenly becoming speechless.

"I know right." She giggled, pulling me around to each corner of the shop, telling me what each flower was and where it came from.