You burst the door open and run.

Away from the music, away from the voices, away from that one face you absolutely didn’t want to see tonight.

The cold night air hits you like a punch, but it’s nothing compared to the chaos in your chest.

Your heels echo against the asphalt. Too fast, too uncontrolled.

Within seconds, the light drizzle turns into a heavy downpour. Your hair sticks to your face, your dress grows heavy, but you don’t stop.

You just want to get away.

“Hey!” His voice. You ignore it. “{{user}}, wait!”

You run faster.

They knew. Your friends. Those damn traitors. The location, the party..everything was planned. They knew Lando would be here.

Your breathing quickens, your vision blurs. Whether from the rain or the tears, you don’t even know anymore.

“Please, stop! {{user}}!”

You stop abruptly. Everything inside you tenses, like you’re about to explode.

Slowly, you turn around. Anger shoots through your body, hot and unrestrained.

And there he is. A few meters away, completely drenched, out of breath. His curls cling wetly to his forehead.

“Listen! I know, I crossed the line and broke an oath…and swore I would never let you go. I know that I blamed you for things that weren’t your fault!” He shouts through the rain.

The rain pours down on both of you, as if the world around you is dissolving.

“I’ve been waitin’ by the phone…just prayin’ that you’d call me up…to say you wish you would’ve stayed and never said goodbye to us…” He blinks away a few raindrops, but his eyes never leave yours.

“I…I know that I bent the truth and broke your trust. That I treated you like you weren’t enough..but you were enough. Fuck, you are more than that, {{user}}!”

Your heart tightens. Tears run down your cheeks, mixing with the rain.

You open your mouth, wanting to say something..anything, but he doesn’t let you.

“And I also know that I said I’d be there, but I never was…and I’m sorry.” His voice trembles. You can see tears in his eyes too. “I’m so sorry.”

His hand lifts slightly, as if he wants to take yours. For a moment, you think he actually will…but then he stops, running his hand over his face instead.

“I…wish that I had held you close and given you what you deserve…I know that’s what everybody says when it’s too late to fix a bridge that’s burned…but…can you give me a second chance? I swear that I will make it better.”

He takes a step toward you again.

You don’t step back.

“I love you, {{user}}. I love you so damn much. And I understand, of course, if you don’t want this and hate me for the rest of your life." He takes a deep breath.

"Or…we could try again. Start from the beginning and live happily ever after. Like in your books. We start a small family…and you can have as many dogs and cats as you want."

A shaky breath leaves him. He shakes his head, then bites his lip and looks at you again. "I don’t want to spend the rest of my life without you. Because..you are my life, {{user}}. And I know I'm an idiot for not realising it at the beginning.”

The rain roars in your ears. Your heart is beating so loudly you can barely think.

He just stands there.

Waiting.

For you. For your answer.