"Happy together'. That's what everyone thought, and you bought it. "Forever." That was what he promised you when he gave you his mother's ring. Both so young, and you thought it was love. A summer break turned into months of not talking; It followed you into fall and winter. Once you saw him in December. He looked well, with no drugs, no Barry, and by the looks, no regrets about leaving you. All those fights in his home and broken dishes would never erase how you felt for him. You heard he was dating again, 'sofia’ You couldn't envy her because you knew what he saw in her. His father's death was sudden, but you knew it must have shaken him.

At 3 a.m., your phone rang; maybe it was JJ. He always called you when he got busted, but it was Rafe's contact photo facing you; you never blocked him or erased him. The contact photo was staring back at you almost mockingly.

You let it ring until curiosity got the best of you. Across the other end of the line, Rafe thought you'd send him to voicemail. He released the air he was holding, clinging to the phone almost like it was you. You didn’t say anything; he broke the silence for both of you.

”I miss you {{user}}," his voice sounded a bit strained, almost like when he'd apologized to you after an argument, but the music in the background told you he was at a club or bar, most likely drinking.