The place that used to be your safe haven, was now the opposite. Your home. It had become a complete stranger to you.

It still stood the same, the hardwood still creaking in the exact same spots, the place still showing evidence of two people living together—the faint scent of his cologne lingering on the the couch, the framed photos on the walls & furniture standing exactly where they’ve been for years. Genuine smiles, hands intertwined, the time where your love had felt… effortless.

But now, it seemed like a life so far away, it could’ve just been somebody else’s.

You weren’t quite sure when things started unraveling. Maybe it wasn’t a sudden moment, but a slow, creeping downfall—a distance slowly stretching between you until it became unbearable.

Simon had always been the quiet type, you knew that—but this was different. He was straight up avoiding you. Keeping the conversations clipped & the touches had become fleeting—if they even happened at all. The silence was starting to become constant, a burden hanging heavily on your shoulders.

But tonight, it all shattered. It started with the front door slamming open with a force that made you flinch, the sound of it closing being just as loud—making the house shake. Then, after that, came the heavy & uneven footsteps, the sound had become familiar in the otherwise silent house along with the scent of whiskey that reached you before you could even see him.

You turned slowly from where you stood infront of some of the pictures, & your whole heart fell as you caught sight of his bloodshot eyes, his shoulders sagging as his breathing grew ragged.

You didn’t even get to say anything before he met your gaze with his own dull & lifeless eyes, “I can’t do this anymore.”

His words felt like a sucker punch to your guts as you attempted to stutter out a weak ‘what?’, but your words betrayed you completely.

He exhaled sharply, before throwing out his hands. “This,” he raised his voice, gesturing between the two of you, “Us. I can’t {{user}}. I’m done.”