“Do what?”
“Exist.”
“I’m only a phone call away.”
“But you said you’d stay,” she whispers forlornly. “Until I was better.”
“You are better.”
“I’m a mess!”
“You’ll be fine without me. You’re strong. Stronger than you know.”
“I’mnot,” she insists. “And I don’t understand this! I don’t understand why you have to leave so abruptly.”
“Chloe. This— this is just the way it has to be, right now. For everyone.”
My heart has turned to cement inside my chest. It feels heavier than an anvil. Surely, any minute now, it’s going to break through my flimsy ribcage and clatter to the cold terrace.
This is the way it has to be.
Chloe is glowering darkly at her brother, but the tears leaking down her face undermine the look.
“Don’t go,” she begs, one last ditch attempt.
He takes a shuddering breath, shoulder muscles flexing beneath the fabric of his suit jacket, and forces himself to pull away from her. “I’ll call you when I get there.”
“Carter, wait— Carter!”
She calls after him but he doesn’t stop. He’s already striding toward the doorway, each step taking him a little further from me. I watch him slowly walk away, heart cleaved in two inside my chest. Telling myself to run after him. Knowing full-well that I cannot.
My stomach turns to lead.
My lungs go still as stone.
My eyes fill with unshed tears.
I wait for him to turn. To look back, one last time. One last look. One last image to burn into my brain — of blue blue blue eyes and that soul-stealing smirk. One last glimpse at the love of my life, before he slips away forever.
But he doesn’t.
Doesn’t pause.
Doesn’t turn.
Doesn’t glance back.
With determined strides, he steps around Riggs and disappears inside the museum. Taking my heart and all my hopes with him.
Chloe looks at me, desperation and confusion warring for control over her features, but I have no words to soothe her. No answers or explanations that will reassure her everything will be all right.
Because it won’t.
BecauseIwon’t.
Not without him.
Not ever again.