One breath. Two breaths. Three breaths.

The wind from the air conditioning blew through your silky hair. It wasn’t the first time you stood in front of those bars this week, even if it hurt like hell. Those eyes you once knew stared at you — those same brown eyes you carried. Your father had been behind bars for around seven years now, nothing compared to the lifetime sentence he got for killing those men. He talked about how much he missed being free, what happened in prison, and whatever else he could fit into those fifteen minutes. His cellmate, Theodore — or more commonly known as T-Bag — watched, his lips wet with saliva, licking it away. You raised a confused eyebrow as he passed a note to you just before a guard guided you away. You uncrumpled the note as you sat in your car.

‘This is the last time I’m warning you. You don’t get it, do you? You belong to this world now, whether you like it or not. I own a piece of your life, and I’m coming for the rest. I know everything about you. Your full name. Your whole family. Your address and your family members’ addresses — hell, even your bra size. Lando, your little boy? He’s just a distraction. Get him out of the way or I’ll send some of my boys to pay him a visit — no witnesses, no mercy. Walk away. Now. Or I’ll hunt you both down until the last light dies in your eyes. T-Bag xx’

The next day, your heart was in your throat as you texted Lando where to meet you — at the small café around the corner from your apartment. Your hands trembled, your heartbeat crashing against your ribs. He looked at you with pleading, breaking eyes and whispered the only words that could slip past the pain swelling in his throat:

“Please… don’t let me be the thing you’re most afraid to love.”

But you pulled your hands away, turned, and walked into the night, leaving him standing there — shoulders shaking, heart shattering in the darkness behind you. He loved you; you loved him — but the fear of Theodore hurting Lando overwhelmed every other emotion.

Two weeks later, the party was in full swing, music blasting over the rooftop. The drink in your hand trembled slightly as you stood beside one of your friends. You turned your head, and there he was. Lando. Your eyes locked. In that single, electric moment, the music seemed to vanish. You took a hesitant step backward, your lips parting as if you might speak his name. But he only stood there, frozen, his fingers curled into fists at his sides. Before you could move away, he shook his head slowly and motioned for you to meet him in the hallway, a single tear glinting before slipping down his cheek.

You slipped out into the hallway, and there he was — leaning against the wall, head bowed, hands braced like he was trying to hold up the whole world. When he looked up, his eyes found yours instantly, raw and shining with everything he had been trying to bury.

“Tell me why. Why did you break things off with me?” he rasped, his voice breaking.

You opened your mouth, but no sound came. The truth clawed at your throat — too dangerous to speak, too heavy to swallow.

“I can’t say why I did… just know it’s because… I care about you, okay? I’m so sorry, Lan.”

He took a shaky step forward, his jaw tight, his breath uneven — like he was on the edge of breaking all over again.

“You have a weird way of showing you care about me. Acting like an idiot is one thing, but you straight-up broke my heart, Madz” he said, breaking.