Rafe stood outside your door, the cold night air biting at his skin as he knocked for the third time. He’d been here for nearly an hour, pacing, running his hands through his hair, trying to figure out what he’d say to make you listen. The last time you two had spoken, you’d screamed at him, told him you were done, and slammed the door in his face. He deserved it, but that didn’t make it any easier.

Finally, the door creaked open, and there you were. You looked at him with guarded eyes, and it made his chest ache. He missed you—your smile, your laugh, the way you used to look at him like he wasn’t a complete mess. Now, all you had for him was cold indifference.

“Please,” he started, his voice low, almost pleading. “Just hear me out.”

You didn’t move, but the slight narrowing of your eyes told him you were close to shutting the door. He shoved his foot against it instinctively, panic rising. “Don’t,” he said quickly. “Don’t shut me out again.”

Rafe took a shaky breath, his blue eyes filled with something raw. “I know I messed up, okay? I know I hurt you. But I—” He stopped, his words catching in his throat. “I can’t do this without you. I’m losing my mind without you.”

His voice cracked, and he ran a hand through his messy blond hair, his frustration with himself boiling over. “I know I was toxic. I pushed you away, but it wasn’t because I didn’t love you. I do—God, I do. I just didn’t know how to handle it.”

You crossed your arms, clearly unimpressed, but you didn’t walk away. That gave him just enough hope to keep going.

“I can be better,” he said, his voice softer now. “For you. For us. Just… give me one more chance. Let me prove it to you.”

He stepped closer, his gaze never leaving yours. “I’ll do whatever it takes. I swear, I won’t mess it up this time. I just need you, {{user}}.”

For the first time, you saw something in him you hadn’t before—a flicker of vulnerability buried beneath his usual bravado. But whether that was enough to erase the damage he’d done was a question even he couldn’t answer.