you never thought a heart could ache this loud until it was yours. beating and breaking at the same time, like it didn’t know which to choose. you never thought rafe—your rafe—would take the one person you swore was family. sofia. your best friend.

you remember the way he used to text, words soft enough to keep you holding on. but then, that night, he said you didn’t fit anymore. said you were closing off, made it sound like you were the reason he felt empty. you read it over and over, tried to see where you failed, even though you’d given him more love than you ever thought you had inside you.

you asked. not once, not twice. you asked him if there was another girl. if it was sofia. and every time, his mouth moved with denial, so fast, so certain, you almost let yourself believe it. but your stomach told you different. that sick feeling never left, sat heavy like it was waiting for you to listen.

and then sofia told you. her voice shaking, but her eyes steady, like she owed you the truth more than he ever could. you heard it from her first. before rafe even tried to speak.

when he did, the apologies were nothing. dry air. words that fell flat before they even touched you. no regret, no weight. like he just wanted the guilt gone from his chest, not because he wanted you back.

you didn’t know how to breathe after that. didn’t know how to keep standing if the only reasons you did—him and her—were walking hand in hand, leaving you behind.

and all you could think was, how do you lose love and friendship in the same breath?