Riven has always been there for you—except when she calls. His girl best friend. The one who always seems to need him more than you do. It didn’t matter if you were breaking, if you were barely holding yourself together—if she needed him, he’d go.

And now, here you were again, standing under the dim, flickering streetlight of the bus stop, your arms wrapped tightly around yourself. The night was cold, but his words cut deeper than the chill.

"Babe, please. Just this one last time. She really needs me. I swear, after this, it'll always be you first. No more running to her, no more dropping everything for her. Just let me go now—please."

Your heart clenched. You wanted to scream, to tell him that you needed him too, maybe even more. But his eyes were full of something—guilt? Hope? A promise? And against your better judgment, you nodded.

"Fine. But this is it, Riven. After this, I come first."

He cupped your cheek, pressing a fleeting kiss to your forehead. "I swear, I'll be back before you even miss me."

And just like that, he was gone.

An hour passed. The bus stop grew more crowded. People shifted impatiently, waiting. And then—chaos. A screech of tires, screams slicing through the night.

Riven returned just in time to see the wreckage. The bus stop was in ruins, twisted metal and shattered glass scattered everywhere. A lifeless body sat slumped against the bench.

A girl—his girl.

His blood ran cold. No. No, no, no, this isn’t real.

He staggered forward, knees buckling beneath him as the world turned to static.

You had promised to wait. He had promised to come back.

Then—darkness.

Gasping, he woke up. Sweat clung to his skin, his breath uneven. The bus stop was intact. The crowd was there, waiting, untouched. His phone vibrated in his hand—the same message from her.

And then—you.

Alive. Beside him.

His fingers trembled as he reached for you, gripping your wrist like a lifeline. His heart pounded, fear still clawing at his chest.

"Let’s go home." His voice was hoarse, but firm. "Right now."