The End
A/N- This is the last one-shot I had completed. I will update with more when they are written
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She couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t see. His words rang over and over in her ears. She never thought it was possible to feel like this.
Shattered.
Broken.
Numb. No matter how hard she tried, the sobs racked her body continuously over and over until it made her physically sick. No sleep or hunger would come to her, all she wanted was to go back in time and change his mind….to make him love her again.
Lia knew it was a bad idea, that allowing herself to see his face even through a photograph would prove more detrimental than favorable. She easily found the box that her sister had packed two days prior, which had contained all of the physical memories of the couple. Sitting in the furthest corner in the gloomy, dark and cold basement, she tore open the cardboard box she felt the clenching of her heart upon seeing the very first picture that was on top.
It was from her Sixteenth birthday.The day it all began. The day they finally came clean with their feelings after hiding them for many years. Someone was able to catch the exact moment she had heard him say what she had always wanted to hear.
‘I love you.’
The smile that was plastered on the young girl's face was a stark contrast to the puffy, red eyes and quivering lip female that she was at this moment.
Lia cradled the picture close to her heart; eyes closed feeling the cascade of tears trail down her cheeks, the drops landing on the photo. Opening her eyes, she looked back at the box that held every memory of the person who owned her heart. Her fingers curled around the circle pendant that prior to everything she had never taken off, and now that she had she felt naked, exposed…incomplete. The words that were engraved onto the smooth surface had always been considered a promise and declaration of love, now it only worked on cutting the last few strings holding her heart together.
‘I have never loved you anymore than I do, right this second. And I’ll never love you any less than I do, right this second.’
Lia placed a kiss against the cold silver, squeezing her eyes shut as she did so. Without having to look down she knew what was next. Her hands trembled pulling out their most recent photo, it lay encased in a beautiful frame that had a quote written elegantly around it.
‘I knew the second I met you that there was something about you I needed. Turns out it wasn’t something about you at all. It was just you.’
It was hard for her to think that just days prior he looked at her like he had in that picture. His eyes had been full with love, admiration and pride like she was the only person that mattered around them. And now…now he regretted her, regretted them. He wished he had never met her. He no longer loved her.
Finally, Lia felt it. The last string that had been holding her heart together, snap. Curling into herself, she sobbed, her mind began reliving that day, the day she so desperately wanted to forget and she had no way to make that happen.
*Flashback*
“Harry! Harry! I did it!” Lia ran excitedly into her boyfriend's waiting arms a white paper clenched in her left hand. Harry chuckled against her lips that were meeting his again and again.
“What did you do love?” He asked smiling at his very happy girlfriend who, as he stood in front of her, looked as though she was fighting with all her might to not start bouncing. With a wide smile stretched across her face, she held out the white paper.
Harry’s hand reached out taking the very white, very crisp paper from her hand. He could tell by just the paper that it was a letter that held official information. With a confused look, his fingers moved to unfold the letter. His eyes were met by large blocked lettering University of California-Berkeley. He felt his heart drop, his blood cold as he tried to stop the shaking in his hands.
‘Dear Ms. Williams,
Congratulations! We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted as a full-time student and recipient of the Centennial Academic Scholarship….’ He read realizing his worse fear was coming true. Lia was watching him the entire time, waiting for the smile, excitement and congratulations she had expected him to express. She watched as Harry crumpled the paper in his hands, color rising in his cheeks, a harsh breath escaping his lungs as his legs moved him to pace.
“Harry? Are you okay?” Lia asked watching her boyfriends confused and hurt by his reaction to her letter.“Say something…please.”
Lia jumped at the speed of Harry’s heel turn. She could tell by the look on his face that he was trying to hide his emotion, but was failing.She saw the fear, the sadness, the anger, the love and the slight happiness. Lia had wondered how, if or when this day came, how Harry would handle it. She had been his rock for so long that she knew there was a strong chance of him feeling abandoned by her going. Lia knew it didn’t matter how many years he had known that this was her dream, he could still lash out and, by the look on his face, that is exactly what was going to happen.
“Are you going? Are you accepting their offer?” Harry was trying to keep it together, to not automatically give into the fear and anger he was feeling.
“Harry, you-“
“Are you going? Yes or no?” He interrupted her, his voice slightly raised, his tone curt.
Lia looked Harry straight in the eye.She could tell he already knew her answer but wanted her to verbally say it.
“Yes, I am.” Her voice wavered with the emotions she held at bay.
“So that’s it then? You’re just going to the states; you’re going to leave me…us…behind. You don’t give a shit what happens with us, you’re leaving me.” Harry’s voice was hard and cold, matching the look he had in his eyes.
“You know that’s not true Harry. I love you more than anything, you know this, but this has been my dream for years. I have to follow my dreams and you had always told me that you would support me. So why are you saying this? Why aren’t you happy for me?” Lia’s eyes welled up and pour over with hot tears.
“You belong with me Lia! What about our dreams?! What about us getting married or moving in together?! What about our future?! You’re the one leaving; you are the one giving up on this!” Harry’s control had slipped; he no longer had a handle on his mouth or brain as he spoke.
“That’s not true! I still want all of that!There is no one else for me but you.Please just understand that I have to do this. I need you to be supportive, and trust that I am not giving up on us, on this.” Lia pleaded, her hand moving to grab his, a sob ripped through her as he tore his hand away from her. “Harry….please.”
“Angelia, if you go I am not waiting.If you choose to go, that’s what you choose. You give me…this…us, our future…up, completely.” Lia knew what he was doing. He had been used to getting his way and when he didn’t he would fight to get it. “So tell me Angelia, are you going? I’m not waiting anymore, are you going?”
“Yes.” Her voice was small, tears falling down her cheeks in a steady stream.
“Then we’re done. Thank you, Angelia for allowing me to waste 3 years of my life with you. I can’t believe you wasted my time. I regret this, I regret all of this. My life would have been much easier, better, without you. I can’t believe I even thought I loved someone who is so inconsiderate and selfish.”
“Loved?” She asked softly. Looking at her straight in the eye his voice was low and harsh.
“I don’t love you.” Lia’s heart at that moment split in two. She could tell that he knew he had succeeded in hurting her. Turning around without another word to him, she exited the room and…his life.
*End Flashback*
Lia laid on her side, curled into the fetal position as the memory finished. She had hoped he would call, that he would apologize and say he would support her. But he hasn’t. She knew there was only one thing left to do. There was only one way, one person she knew would help her with what she needed. And that was Gran.
The moment Lia had contacted Gran; she cancelled everything to make time for her. Even though getting dressed, keeping her emotions in check and remembering protocol was the last thing she wanted to do, but she knew she HAD to do it. Walking through the halls of Buckingham, she couldn’t help but wonder if this would be the last time she would ever see inside these walls intimately.
“Your Majesty, Miss Williams.” Walking into Grans office she was immediately embraced by the older and shorter woman.
“There is no protocol today Angelia. I am just Gran today, not a Queen.” With Gran’s soothing words, Lia’s front broke.
“You did the right thing Angelia. You did. My grandson has some growing up to do. Who knows what the future will bring, but you’ve worked hard for this opportunity. You’re a strong girl, my dear child. I’ve known this for many years. I also know that if you stay here any longer you will give in to him. However, I have already booked you a flight and hotel until school starts.” Lia looked at Gran surprised but also relieved.“You leave in a week, on Friday at 9 AM. Please promise me something Angelia?”
“Anything Gran.”
“I want to continue being in your life. You are still one of my grandchildren, no matter what.Please keep in touch; I want to know all of your accomplishments.You have made me so proud Angelia; you are an amazing young woman. Please don’t forget that.” Lia moved, wrapping his arms around Gran whispering her promise to her and a thank you.
A week later at 8:30 AM, Lia sat in a car that was bringing her to the airport. After many tearful goodbyes with her family and friends, she was happy with the thought of leaving, of not having to think about him being around her or running into him. She was leaving all of this behind, leaving him behind like he had wanted in the end.
Taking her seat on the plane, she gazed out the window. As the plane began to take off, she placed her hand to lay on the thick glass of the window.
‘Goodbye Harry, I don’t hate you and will always love you. Goodbye past, thanks for the memories.’ She thought before facing forward. ‘Welcome future, let’s do this.’
The plane lifted off the ground and into the air, leaving Lia’s past back on the ground.