(Scarlett & Lia) "I said I love you."
“I love you too.” Her response was automatic and instinctual, it left her mouth like an exhale. It seemed as if she’d said the words thousands of times since the first time: in between kisses and laughs, through shut doors and tacked onto the end of a phone call. Each time different from the last but by no means devoid of it’s weight. It never stopped meaning as much as it did that first time, even now as a somber tone coated words that often came out with a smile.
Until she’d experienced it firsthand, Lia had learned everything she needed to know about love from Nicholas Sparks and Taylor Swift’s discography. It was enough for a while. The notions of being swept away with cliches and happy endings were enough until they weren’t. It wasn’t until recently that she began to realize love wasn’t always enough. “But I can’t – I can’t choose between you or my family. You can’t ask me to do that, it’s not fair.” Though the heaviness of both their words seemed to say she already had.
Briefly, Lia’s eyes broke away from Scarlett’s, giving away from the weight of the tension. “I love you.” She repeated. It didn’t offer resolution and for once, the words hurt more than they helped but it felt better than sorry. It didn’t feel like closure or guilt – just truth.
