“I love you.”

I watch and hear the words leave your lips, but they don’t fully register. There’s no way you just said that. I can’t believe it. I don’t want to believe it.

After everything, all that time and energy I put in, now is when you want to express these feelings? Saying you miss me? Saying you were wrong? Who do you think you are?!

I spent years trying for you. I would’ve given you anything you wanted and more. And you know that! You were the one to dismiss my advances, shut down my actions, and silence my feelings. I was killing myself for your affection. It’s not my fault I gave up trying.

But now? Now I’m in a relationship! I’ve finally moved on. I’m happy. It’s like you just want to prove something to yourself. That you can still have a hold on me or something.

I can’t go through it again. Not when I just finished putting myself together after you shattered me over and over.

“You… You don’t love me,” I shakily reply, trying to muster up my courage to stand my ground against you. “You just want me because you can’t have me.”