#rick brennan

[pasparal]

Star reporter Rick Brennan argues with gas station owner Neil Shepherd who's refusing to gas Soviet-made Lada cars. Toronto, May 21, 1980 Photographer: Reg Innell/Toronto Star

[stephanine-sims]

Rick: “.. I doubt that..” Rowan: “Well, I think it’s the best for me..”

Rick didn’t have a reply to that.. He didn’t think it was the best for her but that was something he couldn’t decide for her. Five minutes ago he had been devastated when she told him that she had cheated.. but suddenly it didn’t matter anymore and he was begging for her to stay.. He had been so ready to forgive her.. yet it wasn’t enough.

Rowan gently grabbed Rick’s hand and squeezed it. She smiled sadly and turned around to leave.

[stephanine-sims]

Rick watched Rowan as she walked away. He couldn’t quite grasp yet what had gone down this evening. What started out as a lovely dinner in Windenburg ended up as devastating blow to his emotions. First, his long-term girlfriend confessed cheating on him, and then she decided to end their relationship. He hadn’t seen it coming. Not in the slightest. He always thought they were doing well. Sure, they had their fights.. but in the end he was always convinced that their love would overcome all problems. Turned out.. he was wrong. He still couldn’t understand it all. 

Rowan stopped at the door, picked up the bag she had put down there earlier and looked up one last time to meet Rick’s gaze. Her expression was sad.. but in a way also relieved. His heart shattered into a million pieces, as he realized it was really the end.

Rowan: “I’m sorry..” Rick: “Yeah.. Me too..”

[stephanine-sims]

Rick: “If.. If you’re unhappy with our relationship we need to talk about it..”

Rowan tried to stop her hands from trembling and legs from shaking as she stood there. Of course she realized that they needed to talk about their relationship.. but what good would it do? They had already talked about it so many times, and arrived to the same conclusion every single time.

Rowan: “I know.. I just.. don’t know if it’ll help..”

[stephanine-sims]

A tear ran down Rick’s cheek. Her words hurt even more than he thought they would, even though he has sensed that they were coming when he asked her for her opinion. He shook his head and sighed.

Rick: “You.. don’t mean that, Ro.. Please..” *sniffs* “Please tell me you don’t mean that..” Rowan: “I.. I’m sorry..” Rick: “Ro.. Please.. I love you.. I.. I’ll do anything..” Rowan: “Rick, please.. Don’t make this any harder..?” Rick: “You love me too, Ro.. I know it..” Rowan: “I do. I really do.. Most of the time, I’m so happy to be with you.. We have so many good moments, laughing together, just.. being together? But then at the end of the day we disagree about our plans for the future and we fight again.. Neither of us is getting what they want?” Rick: “...” Rowan: “...People change, you know? And I think that’s what happened between us.. I.. I don’t think we are the perfect match.. Maybe we used to be when we first started dating, but not anymore..”

[stephanine-sims]

Rick looked up at Rowan, his eyes sad and overloaded with tears. It broke her heart to see him like this.. but she had decided it was the best for her. Rowan had never expected herself to be the type to cheat on her boyfriend.. and honestly? It had taken a toll on her, learning that she could be that type of person. It had happened and there was no undoing it. Now it was time for her to step back and heal..

Rick: “So.. That’s it? Just.. like this? Over and done..?” Rowan: “... I dont know..? I guess so..” Rick: “’.. Alright then..” Rowan: “I’m sorry..” Rick: *sighs* “Ah.. Scarlett will be devastated..” Rowan: “I.. I’m really sorry.. but I think it’ll be for the best. For both of us..”

[stephanine-sims]

Rowan: “I mean.. I don’t know..” Rick: “What do you mean ‘you don’t know’.. It’s a yes-or-no question, Ro..” Rowan: “I.. I know.. But I.. just don’t know..”

Rick sighed, his breath ragged as his emotions got to him. He leaned back over in despair and a tear ran down Rowan’s cheek. 

Rick: “What does that even mean..? What did I do..?” Rowan: “You did nothing.. I just..” *sighs*

[stephanine-sims]

Rowan walked towards the couch and both of them sat down. Rowan sighed deeply while Rick sat quietly next to her, waiting for her to speak as he realized she wanted to tell something important. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before spitting out what had been on her mind the last two weeks.

Rowan: “Rick.. I.. I kissed someone else..”