You and Rafe were together for two years. And you loved each other — God, you really did. But love was never enough when neither of you could save the other.

Rafe would promise to stop using. He’d hold your face in his shaking hands and swear he was done. And then he'd vanish, get high, push you away — until he came crawling back, broken, begging. Again.

But it wasn’t just him. You had your demons too. When things got bad at home, you’d shut down. Cut him off. Return to the coping mechanisms that were quietly destroying you. Still, somehow, you always found your way back to each other — over and over. Because love wasn’t the problem. Love was the addiction.

But what happens when two broken people have nothing left to give? You couldn’t help each other. So you ended it.

The breakup nearly killed you. For two weeks, you couldn’t eat without throwing up. You stopped sleeping. You couldn’t even stand to look in a mirror, let alone shower. But eventually, you tried to move on.

Four months later, the Pogues dragged you to a party. JJ was being sweet, flirty — he kissed you a few times, and you let him. He went to grab drinks, and you stayed behind, standing by the fire...

That’s when your eyes met his. Rafe.

He looked at you like he was seeing a ghost — like the air had been knocked out of him. And your heart cracked right open. Then Sofia appeared, grabbing him by the shirt and kissing him — and he kissed her back. But it was quick. Too quick. He pulled away almost instantly, his eyes finding yours again. The guilt written all over his face made you sick.

JJ returned with two drinks, his arm wrapping around your waist, whispering something in your ear — but you didn’t even hear it. You were still locked in that look with Rafe. You both looked like you were going to throw up.

Maybe Sofia’s enough to save him — maybe she’s everything you weren’t. But part of you wishes, deep in that bleeding place you never show, that it was your arms he crawled into when the world got too loud. That it was you. God, you wish it was you.