Hard to Love

X

River's pov

   With a beating heart I ran to her. I didn't care if I got hit instead. She doesn't deserve to get hurt. I wrapped my arms around her, picked her up and accidentally threw her into the street curb out of anger.

  "What the hell were you thinking? You could've died!" I shouted at her while she was still on the ground. Why wasn't she getting up? My face turned soft once I noticed the terrified look on her face.

   "Hey." I said softly "Are you okay?" She still doesn't respond to me or even look up.
"Olive." I spoke firmly this time. I started to give up so I decided to just walk away.

   "River." She said barely audible, making me stop in my tracks and my heart clenched at how broken her voice sounds. "Thank you." She told me still whispering. I went to her and helped her up. I made sure she was steady before I let her go. "Let's go." My voice came out a whisper for some reason as I lead her to my car.

    I was supposed to be going to Emery's house but when I saw Olive running straight into ongoing traffic, Emery was irrelevant.
The car ride was silent. Olive didn't cry, move, talk or anything. So I decided to break the silence. "Hey Olive, can I ask you something?" She didn't respond so I went ahead and proceeded.

   "How come you ran into traffic? Why were you running in the first place?" She snapped her head in my direction. She opened her mouth but no words came out. Instead tears started to fall. I didn't press on despite the curiosity that was eating me up. When we got to the house, I got out of my side and walked to hers. I opened the door for her and helped her out. Well, I had to practically pick her up.

   When we were walking to the door she finally spoke. "River." She spoke in a small voice. "Can I ask you something? "I nodded.
"If someone" she pauses as she crosses her arms over her chest, hugging herself. "I-If someone you work for touches you. Is it okay for them to do so?" What happened to her? "No, it's not okay. Especially if they touched you without your consent."

   She looked up into my eyes and I saw just how broken she was. Usually her eyes had an happy, content look in them, but now, now her deep brown eyes were empty and lost. "Are you okay?" "No." She breathed out as tears started to build up.

   I reached out to her and pulled her into a hug. She gripped the fabric on my back while I pulled her as close to me as possible and I rubbed her back in a soothing way. I could feel her tears soak through my hoodie.

   "Riv-" Olive started to speak but she was interrupted by a voice I didn't really want to hear right now.

Emery.

"What the hell is going on here?"

"Em."

"No. Don't Em me. Why are you and this slut hugging up on each other?" She questions as she puts her hands on the hips and arches her brow. "Emery!" I yell threateningly. "No, I want to know why you would choose this bitch over me."

   I opened the door and gently shoved Olive inside. "She isn't a slut!" I barked as I walk closely to her as the anger rushed through my veins. "She is a gentle, kindhearted person who has been hurt in an unimaginable way that you will never understand!"

  "You were suppose to be meeting up with me!" Emery huffed as she crossed her arms and started pouting. "Don't start this. Don't you fucking dare." I warned.

   "Start what?" She asked innocently.
"You know what." I crossed my arms. "I didn't meet up with you because I saw Olive about to be hit by a bus. So yeah I chose her over you!" "You're joking right?" She laughed as she crossed her arms. " 'Cause if you aren't we are over. I am fed up with how you treat me."

   "With how I treat you? How do I treat you?" "Well for starters you're inconsiderate and you're ungrateful." "I'm inconsiderate and ungrateful? Please, your describing yourself, just plus other things."

    "Like what?" she sneered. "You're controlling, manipulative, clingy and don't think for once I was completely blind sided to the fact that you haven't just been sleeping with me!" Emery scoffed and slapped me then she turned on her heel and left. And just like that my eight year relationship ended.

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Word Count: 780