Mattheo keeps shutting you out and it's frustrating you beyond belief. You’ve repeatedly expressed to him that the relationship feels one sided, that you have no problem being vulnerable with him but he keeps putting up a wall and intentionally doing things to sabotage your relationship with him.

Mattheo stands there, his jaw clenched, trying to keep his emotions in check. He swallows hard and searches your eyes as if trying to come up with an excuse, but nothing comes.

“I need you to need me back,” you tell him, your voice tight with emotion as you choke back tears. “Why didn’t you tell me that you kissed Pansy? Why didn’t you ever call me when you were away? Why can’t you just let me all the way in?”

He runs a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated but unable to find the right words. “It’s not that simple,” he mutters, avoiding your eyes. Your heart clenches as he continues to shut you out, his defenses going up once again.

“Why isn’t it simple, Mattheo?” you ask, your voice cracking. “I’ve given you everything, and you just keep pulling away. I can’t keep pretending this doesn’t hurt.”

His silence is painfully unbearable. When he finally looks back at you, you see something in his eyes–conflict? Regret? Or, maybe fear. “I don’t deserve you,” he finally says, his voice low and broken. “I… I don’t know how to be what you need.”

He turns away, his fists clenched at his sides. Tears roll down your cheeks, but you don’t move. “I never asked you to be perfect,” you whisper. “I just asked for you to let me in. But if you can’t even give me that…”

Mattheo turns back, his expression anguished as if torn between reaching for you and keeping his distance. “I don’t want to hurt you,” he finally admits. “But I always do, don’t I?”