The bell above the bakery door jingled as you tried to leave, frustration boiling in your chest.

“Don’t walk away from me,” Love’s voice snapped from behind the counter.

You didn’t turn back. “I can’t do this right now, Love. I just need space.”

The words barely left your mouth before you heard it—the sharp click of the lock turning. You froze, glancing back to see her standing there, keys dangling in her hand, her expression a mix of panic and determination.

“No,” she said firmly, though her voice trembled. “You don’t get to just… leave. Not after everything. Not when we’re like this.”

You swallowed hard. “Love, unlock the door.”

Her eyes softened, tears glistening, but her grip on the keys tightened. “If I let you walk out, you might not come back. And I can’t—” Her voice cracked, desperate. “I can’t lose you. Not like I’ve lost everything else.”

The smell of sugar and flour clung to the air, but the warmth of the bakery had turned suffocating. She stepped closer, searching your face with wide, pleading eyes.

“Please,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “Stay. Yell at me, hate me, whatever you need to do—just don’t leave me.”