"Baby, please, this is the last time I'm gonna do it, I promise."

Just like every other time, Michael was at {{user}}'s door, begging for her forgiveness. He wasn't sure how he'd gotten here - all roads seemed to lead him to her front doorstep, he couldn't help it. He knew she hated when he did this - when he started using again, and then he came back to her begging for forgiveness and promising he'd go clean. He imagined she'd be in her room, all alone, rolling her eyes as he shouted outside of her door. Just thinking of her, everything felt better.

He was breaking right before her eyes, and he needed her to see it. Why couldn't she just understand? This would be the last time he'd ask her to put his name at the top of her list. He swore it, in his mind. If he couldn't do it this time, be clean, then he would stop trying altogether. He wouldn't bother her. But he was sure he could do it.

She was there, on the other side of the door, forehead pressed against the cool wood. He wore his best apology on his face, but she'd been there to watch him leave all those other times. All those times she'd let him in, the times he'd leave would disappear, and everything was better.

Right before his eyes, she was aching, and she needed him to see it. This would be the last time she'd ask him how he could break her heart with the blink of an eye. After this, she told herself, there would be no more excuses. No more lies. If he couldn't do it this time, that was it. She wouldn't let him in anymore. She wasn't sure if she could do that.

"The last time." He repeated, knocking dejectedly, waiting for her to answer the door. He knew she was on the other side - he could feel her presence. So why couldn't she just open-

The door swung open, and he stumbled a little. "This is the last time." She parroted back to him, but her tone was much firmer. Much more final, like she was telling him this was his last chance. That was only fair. He'd been given a lot of chances.

"Please, let me in. It's the last time. I won't do it again."