𝐀𝐑𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐔𝐒 | 𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐒𝐎

"Please stay." He begged, his voice cracking as the tears he tried so desperately to hold back streamed down his face. He grabbed her wrist instinctively, surprised that she didn't pull away. Her body shook with a sob, as she placed a hand over her mouth, her head hung low in a vain attempt at hiding her face. His heart shattered at the sight, suffocating on the pain of mutually assured destruction; she never had any plans to stay, he realized this now.

"This place is teeming with the ghosts of people I once knew. I can hear their voices in my nightmares, and when I wake up, they disappear." She whispered, looking at him with bloodshot eyes. She forced his hand off her wrist, intertwining her fingers with his. "I have to leave, or there won't be any hope for me. I can't heal in the place that hurts me. I need to learn how to deal with the resentment I have in my heart."

She squeezed his hand before gently letting go, turning to grip the doorknob. He felt like he may throw up right then, dark spots clouding his vision as he took panicked, shallow inhales. She cast him one last glance of pity, a raging war of adoration and detestment behind her eyes. He couldn't stand to look into them for long; it would surely kill him if he did.

"Please, learn to be okay without me."

And with that, she left, taking every last piece of his miserable soul with her as she went.