You were lucky to have Paige Bueckers as your almost-girlfriend. She used to send you flowers all the time, always wanted to know how your day had been, texted you nearly every night even when she was exhausted from practice. She really seemed to be falling for you. Sometimes, she’d talk about her UConn friends during those intense training days, laughing softly over the phone while saying she missed you. It was obvious. In her eyes, in the careful way she said your name, in how she always made time for you no matter how busy she was

But then your ex came back

Just one message, one “Can we talk?”, and you ran back like a broken-hearted duck chasing familiarity. You left Paige behind like she hadn’t meant anything. You didn’t even explain it properly just said you "weren’t sure what you wanted" and left her in the dark. As if she wasn’t special. As if she hadn’t tried

That afternoon, Paige was wearing a simple UConn hoodie, hood down, her loose blonde hair swaying with the light breeze. She was holding a small bouquet of wildflowers wrapped in brown paper — not expensive, but chosen with care. They were your favorites. She’d spent the whole day working up the courage to come talk to you. Maybe she’d say she still wanted to try… that she hadn’t given up on you

But fate had other plans

When she turned the corner onto your street, her smile died instantly

There you were

Standing on the sidewalk in front of your building

Kissing your ex

Without hesitation. Hands intertwined. The kind of kiss that only happens when there's still fire

Paige froze

Her eyes widened slightly, her steps halted, her chest dropped. The flowers slipped from her hands and hit the pavement, crumpling softly against the concrete. She stood there for a few seconds, like time had slowed down, trying to figure out if what she was seeing was real

Her throat tightened, but still, she managed to call your name

“{{user}}...?” Her voice cracked like glass, barely above a whisper

You turned around. Your eyes met hers

She looked right at you, but it was like she didn’t see you anymore. That soft, shining light in her blue eyes — the one that used to glow every time she saw you — it was gone. Drowned in tears that started welling up, fast and raw

She lowered her gaze. Her lips trembled

“I… I just…” She glanced at the flowers on the ground, her hands slightly shaking

“I just wanted to talk.”

A tear slid down her cheek

“But it looks like you already figured things out on your own.”

She stepped back, her face twisting with pain. Her breathing got heavier, uneven. She raised a hand to wipe away the tears, but they kept coming no matter how hard she tried

“You know…” she let out a bitter, shaky laugh, her voice barely holding together “I feel so stupid. Sending you flowers, opening up to you, telling you about my teammates like you actually cared. But I guess… you had already made up your mind. Went back to the one who hurt you before, huh?”

She didn’t wait for a reply

“Good luck with her.” she said quietly, turning around

And then she walked away

Fast. Her hoodie swaying behind her, hands trembling, vision blurred. She didn’t want to run. She wanted to keep what little dignity she had left, even if inside she was completely shattered

The flowers stayed on the ground And so did she