The room was thick with tension, the air almost suffocating. You stood across from Mattheo, heart pounding in your chest, your hands trembling as you tried to keep your composure. The argument had spiraled out of control in a way you hadn’t expected.

“I don’t even know why you're making it into such a big deal," Mattheo snapped.

“Because it is a big deal, Mattheo! You can’t just—" you started, but he cut you off.

"What’s that even got to do with anything?" His laugh was bitter, more of a scoff than anything else. "You’re always turning every little thing into a problem, like I’m the one causing it.”

“You’re not listening to me!” you shot back. "I’m trying to tell you how I feel, but you’re shutting me out—"

“This is your fault, not mine,” he interjected. His gaze shifted away from you for a moment, clearly trying to calm himself.

Your throat tightened, and for a moment, you couldn’t speak. You couldn’t understand how he could say that. “I—no. Mattheo, we’re supposed to be a team. You can’t just push me away when things get tough!”

He laughed again, but it wasn’t the kind of laugh that should have come from someone you loved. It was cold, distant. "You know where the door is, darling."

Your breath hitched. The words stung more than you expected. This wasn’t how you imagined things going, not when you’d started this relationship, not when you’d promised to be there for each other.

Mattheo took a step back, his eyes softening just slightly, but it wasn’t enough to undo the damage.

“You don’t mean that,” you whispered, though you could hear the doubt in your own voice.

For a second, it seemed like he wanted to say something, like he regretted it. His lips parted, but nothing came out.

The silence that followed was deafening. It echoed in your ears. What was left to say when the one person you thought would always have your back made it clear they didn’t want to fight anymore?

You stood there, frozen, torn between holding onto him or walking away.