The apartment felt colder than usual, the silence between you and Rafe Cameron heavier than ever. You sat on the couch, your hands nervously twisting the hem of your sleeve, while Rafe stood by the window, his back to you. The city lights outside cast long shadows, mirroring the distance that had grown between you two.

After a long pause, you finally spoke, your voice barely above a whisper. “Rafe, we need to talk.”

He turned slowly, his expression unreadable. “About what?”

You took a deep breath, gathering the courage to say the words that had been weighing on your heart. “About us. About everything that’s been happening.”

Rafe’s eyes narrowed, a flicker of concern crossing his face. “What do you mean?”

You stood up, facing him directly. “I can’t keep doing this. The lies, the constant fighting, the feeling like I’m invisible. I deserve more than this, and so do you.”

His face hardened, and he crossed his arms over his chest. “So, what? You’re just going to walk away?”

Tears welled up in your eyes, but you held his gaze. “I have to. For both of us. We can’t keep pretending everything’s fine when it’s not.”

Rafe’s jaw clenched, and he turned away, staring out the window. “I don’t need your pity.”

You stepped closer, placing a hand on his shoulder. “It’s not pity, Rafe. It’s love. And sometimes, loving someone means letting them go.”

He shrugged off your touch, his voice cold. “Fine. Go then.”

You took a step back, your heart breaking. “Goodbye, Rafe.”

As you walked out the door, you heard him call your name, but you didn’t turn back. You knew this was the end, and as painful as it was, it was the right thing to do.