Chapter One

Madeline’s POV

(24 hours prior)

“I don’t think I can do this anymore.”

No. No way was he breaking up with me over text. No, this can’t be happening, please-

“Andrew-” My voice was dry and it cracked with desperation.

Nonono please no. Anything but this, not now, not ever-

He cut me off before I could have another say in the matter, “I’m sorry.” His apology was cold and stoic, lacking emotion or sympathy.

My phone beeped as he ended the call and flashed to my home screen- a picture of the two of us that crisp March night. The both of us close, but not enough to touch. Our clearly forced smiles now left a bitter taste in my mouth. Void of emotion aside from shock, I start to think back to our earliest years. All the sweet moments we shared, were they all just a summer fling? No... a "fling" wouldn't last that long.

It is true that we had grown apart, but did he really not love me anymore?

Maybe we had never been in love in the first place.

Suddenly, tears started to streak down my cheek and drop onto the illuminated background. It felt as if my heart was slowly breaking and crumbling into a thousand miserable pieces. My phone fell to the ground as I barricaded my vision with my arms. 6 years. 6 years and then he just ends it with a simple phone call. With every realization, I feel pain, so much of it, like a stab to my heart. It’s over with no explanation, no reasons. Come to think of it, a stab to the heart would hurt much less.

Despair turned into anger, anger into desperation. I couldn’t stay here, I need to talk to someone or leave this apartment at the very least. Everywhere I turn, polaroid pictures of us together, his favorite hoodie, a carnival plush- all broken and bitter memories. I run, seizing the framed pictures and throwing them across my apartment. One for each year, one for each. Painful. Year. Glass shattered and scattered all over the tiled floors but I couldn’t care less about the damage.

Damage. If anything, I’m the one who’s damaged.

I lash out, losing all self-control as confusion, guilt, and betrayal rip my heart out and tear at the fraying seams. It burns and feels as if the whole world is ending. In an effort to blindly calm myself down, I get up and hastily throw on a rain jacket. I snatch the car keys to my red Camry, gripping the sharp blades hoping it would cut into my skin. I struggle at the door before finally flinging it open and storming out into the rain.

The thunder roars as drops of water pour down my face, mixing with accumulated tears. I laugh, almost hysterically, at how just one phone call could turn me into a raging monster. My hands rip open the front seat car door, vigorously fighting over control of my emotions and my actions.

I shove the car keys in and quickly maneuver out of my crowded apartment complex, tears clouding my vision.

Was it something I said, something I did?

I grip the side of the steering wheel, my fingernails digging into the cold leather.

Did he fall out of love with me? Was he ever in love with me?

My mascara ran down my cheeks due to the rain and tears, all soaking the steering wheel. I kept driving recklessly, making swift turns and barely stopping at the given signs.

Was our entire relationship built on lies?

I gasp, taking into account the flashing red light above me. My body is frozen in place as I am forcibly dragged out of my thoughts. I move to step on the brake pedal, but I can’t budge. It's too late.

---

Andrew’s POV

We had known each other since forever. Childhood friends turned crushes turned lovers. That is our story, well, it “was” our story.

“I don’t think I can do this anymore.” I removed any evidence of hurt and pain in my voice.

“Andrew-” The crack in her voice forged a crack in my heart.

“I’m sorry.” I was shaking as I pressed the “end call” button.

What have I done?

I flopped onto my window seat, afraid I had ruined the only positive thing in my life permanently. I stared at the storm outside, but with a lack of any deep emotion. I just felt... empty, heartless.

I tried to tell myself I did the right thing. We were bound to break anyway, and after what seemed like 5 years of torture, I had finally ended it. For both of us. I say “5 years” because the first year was a dream. We got along smoothly, going on movie dates and sharing ice cream in mid-December. Your classic cliche, “best friends to couples” story.

6 years later and I’m still falling, just this time out of love instead of into it.

Best friend. That’s right. Madeline is- was my best friend, and as hers, I needed to do what’s right. To be honest, our relationship felt a lot more like friendship, and if we ever did love each other, we grew apart. Heck, we hadn’t even kissed yet! It still hurts though, but I had to be brave, I had to be the one to end things. I had to do what’s best for her. Besides, she deserves better.

Maybe that’s all we ever were, best friends. Best friends who confused platonic love for romantic feelings. But why did I have to call it off? It didn’t matter now, it’s better this way.

Rain poured down around me and I sat staring at the ceiling for what felt like an eternity. It felt like one terrible nightmare, but the despair and guilt clawing my heart told me this was real. The drops of transparent water streaking down my window sent guilt to my heart faster than the lightning could strike.

I wonder how she took this breakup.

My thoughts were interrupted as I got an incoming call. I shakily turned to my phone, praying to the universe she wasn’t calling me back.

Instead, it’s an unknown number.

“H-Hello?” My voice trembled and shook, making it evident that I had been crying only moments prior.

“Hello, Andrew Davis, correct?” A crisp female voice addressed me with authority.

“Uhm y-yes…” I replied suspiciously.

How’d she know my name… maybe I should hang up-

“I am Nurse Matthews from the West Windz Hospital and Health Center. I am calling to inform you that Miss Beckett was involved in a car accident and just got out of surgery for her skull and limbs. Since you are listed as one of her emergency contacts and seem to have history as her significant other, it would be preferable that you come to visit. And perhaps seeing you can trigger her memories since she has minor amnesia.”

Since she has minor amnesia.

My stomach dropped faster than my phone.