Breaking in Pieces

Realizations

   When Dec and Ali return home, he immediately runs up the stairs and into their room as he slams the door shut, locking it behind him. Just as he's stripping down to change into a pair of clean, comfortable clothes, he hears a knock at the door. "Dec?," Ali asks, "can I come in?" Dec hesitates. "No. I really want some time to myself right now." He could practically see that look of disappointment in Ali's eyes as she dropped her head. "Alright well, here if you need me." Dec managed a quiet "thanks" and waited for her footsteps to fade as she walked downstairs before pulling his phone out of his pocket. 'Really enjoyed Takeaway tonight. Dec smashed it!' and messages of the like flooded his and Ant's joint twitter account.
Ant. A tear ran down Dec's cheek as he realized the situation at hand. He couldn't break up with Ant. He couldn't even pretend to break up with Ant. They'd been through too much together to give up now. No matter how much he may have wanted to, he couldn't do it. He was disgusted at himself for even considering it, and threw his phone across the room.
He sits against the bed crying, frustrated. Ali hears all the ruckus and immediately hurries up the stairs. "Dec, I'm coming in. Please." He hears the lock start to jiggle and he realized that Ali was picking the lock. "Yeah whatever." he said back. She opened the door to find a mangled Dec sitting on the floor. She walks to sit next to him and lays her head on his shoulder, cradling his arm. "I love you," she says, "I hope you know that. No matter how many people betray you or turn their backs on you, I'm here. And I'll always be here. Maybe it's not any consolation right now but I really do. And I'll support you no matter what decision you make." Dec lays his head on hers. "I know. And I can't tell you how much I appreciate that. But it's just hard right now. Everything's hard." Ali says: "I know. But you'll get through it. Ant will get through it. Everybody will. It might not be easy but just take it a day at a time. Wake up every morning with the thought that 'today's going to be a good day.' And just remember that there are people who love you." Dec stares at the floor solemnly, hands resting on his legs.
Isla begins to cry. "I'll take care of it." Ali says, and gets up to go tend to her. Dec stays there for a minute before getting up and grabbing his phone. 'Thanks for all the support everyone. I wouldn't be here without it! Dec x' he tweets. The support was unbelievable. He may not be able to believe why everyone is staying with him, after what Ant did. But one thing he did know: he was grateful for it. And it definitely was keeping him going. If it continued, maybe he would actually be able to get through it, and maybe the whole situation is really a blessing in disguise. All he knew was that he would make it through, one way or another. He wasn't sure how yet but he would make it. And that's what matters.