2. The breakup. [Part 2]
1500 Words
When I’m standing in front of his door, I knock five times, but there’s no answer.
“Jeremy,” I call.
“Not now, Aurora.” His voice sounds angry. “Go away.”
I ignore the hostility in his tone.
“No, open up.”
Silence.
“Jer, you know me. You know how stubborn I can be. I’m not leaving until you open this door.”
Again, no answer—and my mind fills with a thousand worries.
What if he’s hurt and doesn’t want anyone to see him?
What if something happened to him?
What if something happened with Sabrina?
“Jeremy… open the door.” I fill my lungs with air, then start yelling, louder and louder:
“Open it! Open it! Open it!”
When the door suddenly swings open, I lose my balance a little because I’d been leaning against it.
Jeremy looks at me, brow furrowed, waiting for me to say something. But I don’t. He’s the one who owes me an explanation. I just stand there, watching as he turns away and heads for the bed. He lies down, facing away from me, completely ignoring me.
I hate when he’s like this—so hard to read.
You never know what he’s feeling. He’s too closed off.
I can’t understand how someone can keep so much locked inside. He’s the exact opposite of me. My feelings are written all over my face; I’m an open book. But to understand what’s going on in Jeremy’s head, you’d have to dissect him piece by piece and hope not to miss a clue.
I step into the room, close the door softly, and sit at the edge of the bed, watching him.
“Jeremy…”
“She broke up with me.” He doesn’t need to say who—of course he means Sabrina. “For another guy.”
I stare at his tense back and slowly place my hand on it.
What am I supposed to say?
“Jeremy…” I gasp when he suddenly turns around, grabs my hand, and pulls me into his arms, holding me tight against him.
“I love her,” he whispers, adding another crack to my already aching heart. I squeeze my eyes shut, trying not to let those words sink too deep.
“I know,” I finally say. “I’m sorry, Jeremy. I really am. You… you looked so happy when you were with her.”
“I was.” His breath hits my neck, warm against my skin, and I force myself to ignore the shiver it causes. “I’m happy when I’m with her, Aurora.”
I run my fingers gently through his hair and can’t help but think how pathetic I must look right now—comforting the guy I love because the girl he loves broke his heart.
I honestly… suck.
“Maybe she just wasn’t the one for you,” I whisper.
He pulls away the second the words leave my mouth.
“You don’t get it,” he says sharply. “We were together almost four years, Aurora. She is the one. I know it.”
I lower my gaze, clenching my fists so tightly that my nails dig into my skin, searching for some physical pain to distract me from the one in my chest.
“I don’t know what to tell you,” I whisper without looking at him.
He lets out a bitter laugh.
“Of course you don’t. You’re just a kid. What could you possibly know about love?”
His words cut right through me.
“You’re right,” I say with a faint smile. “What could I possibly know about love?”
I rest my hands on my knees and stare at the floor for a moment.
An uncomfortable silence fills the room.
What could I know about love?
His words make me furious because deep down, I know that my love for him is probably the most selfless thing anyone has ever offered him. I don’t know if it’s the strongest or the greatest—but I do know no one will ever love him as unselfishly as I do.
Because above my own happiness, I always choose his.
And if that isn’t love, then I don’t know what is.
I bite my lip, holding back everything I want to say, and simply stand up, ready to leave.
“Don’t go.” His hand closes around my wrist.
I look at him.
“I don’t think I’m much help to you. You said it yourself—I don’t know anything about love, Jeremy.” My voice is laced with bitterness, and I don’t care.
“I’m sorry, okay?” He tightens his grip, his eyes pleading. “I don’t know what I’m saying. I just… I just need you to hold me.”
“Jeremy…” I sigh, giving in. “Move over.”
He obeys, shifting to the side to make space for me. I sit down on the bed so he can rest his head on my lap.
“Go to sleep,” I whisper, brushing my fingers over his thick brows.
He gives me a faint smile before closing his eyes, the pain slowly fading from his face as I keep caressing him. I focus only on Jeremy as my fingers trace the lines of his face—but I never dare to touch his lips.
“Does it ever stop hurting?” he asks softly.
Does it really stop? I wonder, and I want to cry because I already know the answer.
No, it doesn’t. At least not for me—it still hurts just as much every time I see him with her. But I don’t tell him that.
“I don’t know,” I whisper, tracing the line of his jaw. “But they say time heals everything.”
I want to laugh, because that phrase has never worked for me.
“And what if I don’t want to heal?” he mutters, frowning.
“Then maybe it won’t stop hurting,” I answer quietly.
He lets out a low groan, and I smile at the sound.
“Love sucks.”
Tell me about it.
My thoughts drift to Sabrina, and I wonder what kind of guy she left Jeremy for. Honestly, I can’t picture anyone better than him—and I don’t say that just because I love him. I say it because I’ve seen the way he looked at her. Jeremy would’ve given her anything she wanted in a heartbeat.
She’s such an i***t.
Or maybe I’m the i***t.
I don’t know.
But either way—how could Sabrina let him go?
All my life, I’ve dreamed of Jeremy feeling even a fraction of what he feels for her. And she just… leaves him for someone else. I guess that’s life: some crave what others take for granted. This world is full of ungrateful, restless hearts.
I sigh, my chest easing a little when I notice Jeremy’s breathing has grown heavy.
He’s asleep.
Carefully, I lift his head and set it on the pillow before heading for the door. When I open it, I find Sadie and my brother arguing in the hallway—something completely normal between them.
“Why won’t you let me in, blondie?” Tyler snaps, glaring at her.
She has her back to me, blocking his way.
“I told you to leave them alone, idiot.”
They both turn when I close the door behind me, the sound catching their attention.
“What were you doing alone in Jeremy’s room?” Tyler asks curiously.
I roll my eyes, then glance at Sadie, who’s watching me expectantly, waiting to hear why Jeremy showed up in that state.
“He and Sabrina broke up,” I say, not mentioning that she was the one who ended it. That’s his story to tell, not mine.
Tyler’s whole expression changes—his brows lower, his face tightening with concern.
“How’s he doing?” he asks.
“Asleep,” I answer simply.
He looks at the door like he’s trying to stop himself from going in to check on Jeremy. Sadie, meanwhile, keeps watching me, her face full of worry.
I give her a small smile, hoping to reassure her, but her expression doesn’t soften.
She knows I’m not okay.
“Can you sleep with me tonight?” I ask weakly.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see my brother frown, but to my surprise, he stays silent.
“If you want,” Sadie says softly, still watching me.
I nod.
“Good night, Tyler,” I say as I walk past him, taking Sadie with me.
As usual, my brother and she ignore each other.
When we get to my room, Sadie doesn’t wait a second—she pulls me into a tight hug.
And there, in her arms, I let myself cry.
Once again, because of Jeremy.
- Writer
