How do you forget the one person who truly knew you? The one who really loved you? You don’t. You can try, you can pretend—but you never really forget.

The reason you ended things with Beck was simple, though painful—she couldn’t communicate. It was her biggest flaw, and it drove you crazy. But god, everything about her was perfect. Her eyes, those soft lips that made you feel like the world was just right. You’d never been so in love, so sure of something, but of course, it didn’t last. Love wasn’t meant for people like you.

So, you found someone else. Anyone else. The first man who came along to fill the void, the first distraction that would help you forget her. It was an asshole move, you knew that. But what else could you do? You couldn’t keep drowning in her absence. For a moment, you thought you might be falling for him.

That was until every time you kissed him, every time you closed your eyes, she was there. Her blonde hair falling in waves across her face, the cool touch of her rings against your skin. The second your eyes opened, it was him again, and the cycle would repeat. Fuck, you missed her. You pushed it down—swallowed it—and prayed it would go away, that one day, she wouldn’t haunt you anymore.

Beck hated herself for her inability to communicate. It was the thing that always stood in the way of everything she wanted. Before you, she had never truly been in love. She was a hookup-and-leave kind of girl—no strings, no mess. But you changed her. Not for the better, though. Now, all she could do was think about you—how she missed holding you, kissing you, the feeling of you against her. She’d give anything to have you back.

It was a Saturday night, and you were at some meaningless party with your boyfriend. You only agreed to come because you knew she’d be there. Beck always showed up to these things—free booze, no questions asked.

You slipped out of your boyfriend’s arms, flashing him a small smile.

“I’m gonna go refill my drink. I’ll be back.”