Be With You, Never

Celeste grabs his hand firmly, her eyes blurring as she hears the sound of horse hooves nearing the shabby house at the edge of the city. A guilty expression paints on his face, eyes turning nervously towards the door. “You can’t leave me,” she croaks. “I won’t leave you either. You can’t make me!” He furrows his eyebrows, pain dancing in his eyes. “Celeste, this is no time for you to be acting like a brat...” “I’m not!” She huffs, pressing her body against him. She doesn’t miss the way his eyes widen, a bold move on her part. Perhaps indecent, but she doesn’t care. “I won’t leave you. I’ve made my choice, and it’s you.” He clenches his jaws, shaking his head from side to side. “That’s ridiculous. You’re the princess of this country and I’m...” he stops, self-loathing. “You are the man I love.” She cups his face, tenderly stroking his cheek. She wishes he would hold her, allow himself to wrap his strong arms around her waist. The horse hooves are closer now, the sound of shouting palace guards ringing in her ears. “Tell me how you feel,” she says. Her heart beats heavily against her chest. She had fled the palace in order to find him. She hasn’t hidden her feelings, she was sure he felt the same. “Tell me you love me, and I will leave the crown, this life, and my father for you.” He says nothing, a battle going inside of him as she anxiously waits for his answer. She can’t help but to remember all the things they had gone through together for the past year. He is her other half, he made her feel complete. The palace guards are outside the shabby house. Unwilling to wait for his answer, she grabs him by the collar bringing her lips towards his. Before their lips can meet, he stops her. His big, firm hands effortlessly pushing her away. “You’ve given your heart to the wrong man. You have to be really dense to not understand what has already been revealed.” A cold feeling washes over Celeste’s body. The palace guards break the door down from the shabby home, separating the two. Celeste’s heart broken.