In His Arms

Arriving at her dorm, Adeline slowly put down her bag, laid on her bed, and distanced herself from her roommates as if she was afraid to utter a word. She seemed unsure of herself, insecure. She preferred to be alone and didn't want to talk to anyone.

Molly noticed Adeline's puffy eyes. "Adele, did you cry?" She touched her shoulder.

Adeline sat up and rubbed her eyes. "It's nothing. I just got dirt in them."

"I know something's bothering you, but I won't force you to tell me. Just relax, alright?"

"I did something unforgivable..."

"Don't talk about it." Abigail handed her a cup of coffee. "It'll just make you remember everything."

Adeline lowered her head, trying to find the words for what she needed to tell them. "Ella and Nic, they aren't together anymore...because of me..."

"Their break up has nothing to do with you."

"I-I just d-don't know what to do anymore... All their fights were all because of me..."

"Jacob called us a few minutes ago." Abigail gave her a warm hug. "Nicholas told them everything. It's not your fault."

"I was such an idiot! I just got caught up in the moment..." Teardrops swelled in Adeline's eyes, before flowing out of them and onto Abigail's shirt. "I just wanted to know how it felt like to be in his a-arms... It was just o-only for a moment..."

As Adeline cried into Abigail's neck, Molly could no longer stop herself from doing the same. The tears she was trying to hold back finally flowed down her chiseled face.

"Adele, you're making me cry too." Molly patted her back.

"Ella probably despises me now." Adeline wiped her tears. "I-I never knew that they would make it such a big de-deal..."

It was painful to see Adeline like this. All Abigail and Molly could do was embrace her and let the torrent of her tears to soak through their shirt. They could feel her clench her fists and hear her silently screaming, suffocating with each breath she took holding onto her pride.

"Nicholas and Ella were the cause of their own break up." Abigail got a napkin and wiped her tears. "Don't blame yourself for things you couldn't control. We all know that you still love him."

"How could I face them? Nic wouldn't be a problem, but what about Ella? What will sh-she think of me...? I didn't steal Nicholas from her..."

"You didn't. Everyone trusts you."

"I should've kept my distance from him, but I d-didn't listen. I was so used to staying by his side. He was everything I wanted."

"Didn't you plan to confess to—"

"Abby, this isn't the right time to say that." Molly covered her mouth. "Saying that won't make anything better."

"It's fine." Adeline stood up and covered her face with her hands. "I jus-just don't know what to do to make me me forget it."

Molly smiled. "Time can surely heal it, Adele."

Since that day on, Adeline started getting distracted because her professors bombarded her with projects and assignments as the end of the school year was approaching. She didn't even have the energy nor time to think about the incident because her mindset was so focused on success.

After surviving the remaining weeks of college, she was finally able to take a break, but her anxiousness kept her thinking about the graduation ceremony the following day.

She recollected the time when she made a promise to herself during her freshman year that she'd gathered the courage to confess to Nicholas, but it never happened. She was afraid of love, because love is what hurts the most.

(In the girl's dorm)

"Today's our last night here." Molly started folding her clothes, placing it in her luggage. "I'll miss you two."

"We'll be staying in the same place, stupid!" Abigail flicked her forehead.

"Adele, you really don't plan to stay with us?" Molly pouted, hugging Adeline's arm. "Staying with Nicholas will just give you misery."

"I've already made my decision." Adeline stood up. "I'll tell him my feelings the day after tomorrow."

"What did you say?!" Abigail's mouth dropped open. "Why?"

"I'm tired of trying and tired of hoping. I want to give up so badly. I've just had enough." Adeline leaned back on her chair. "I just want to be done with this pain. I can't keep waiting for it to get better."

"Well, it's not that we don't—"

"Let her be." Molly grabbed her arm. "We can't stop her from doing what's best."

"What if Nicholas says no...?" Abigail looked away.

Adeline stood up and slipped her feet into her fuzzy slippers. "I'll have to give up trying. Sometimes we have to accept things for the sake of others."