The Lives Untold: Chapter 6: The End?
Damian’s POV
“What?”
The word barely left my mouth.
Tabitha didn’t answer.
She just stared at me.
I waited for her to laugh.
To tell me she was joking.
To say she was angry and didn’t mean it.
Anything.
But she didn’t.
“Taby…” My voice came out quieter this time. “What did you just say?”
Her fingers slowly slipped from mine.
That scared me more than the words had.
“I think we should break up.”
“No.”
The answer came out before I could think.
She blinked.
I shook my head.
“No. You don’t mean that.”
She doesn’t mean that.
She must be joking.
This must be one of her stupid pranks. Another shenanigan.
She loves me.
She loves me.
She loves me.
…doesn’t she?
“Damian-”
“You’re angry.”
“I’m not.”
“You’re exhausted.”
“I know.”
“You’re hurt.”
Her eyes flickered.
I leaned forward, desperately searching her face for something I could hold onto.
“So we’ll fix it.”
She looked away.
“I don’t think we can.”
My chest tightened.
“Why?”
Silence.
“Because I haven’t made enough time for you?”
She said nothing.
“Because I’ve been working too much?”
Still nothing.
“Then I’ll change.”
Her eyes finally met mine.
And there was something in them that I couldn’t understand.
Something that looked almost like grief.
“Damian…”
“Whatever I did, tell me.”
My voice cracked.
“I can fix it.”
She swallowed.
“I know you can.”
“Then why are you leaving?”
My voice dropped to a whisper.
“Please don’t leave me.”
I hated how small those words sounded.
I hated that I couldn’t hide the fear in my voice.
“I can’t…”
My throat tightened.
“I can’t lose you.”
Tabitha’s expression changed.
For one horrible second, I saw the pain she’d been trying so hard to hide.
Then it disappeared.
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She looked down at our hands.
And when she finally spoke, her voice was barely audible.
“Because I’m tired of waiting for you to notice me.”
She looked up at me.
“I’m sorry… Damian. But… I just can’t anymore.”
My head shook before I could stop it.
“No.”
My voice trembled.
“No, you can’t do that. You won’t.”
I reached for her hand.
“Tabitha.”
She didn’t pull away.
That somehow hurt even more.
“You’ll get over me.”
I stared at her.
“How can you say that?”
She didn’t answer.
Instead, she lifted one hand and gently cupped my face.
Her touch was warm.
Familiar.
The same touch that had wiped flour from my cheek today morning.
The same hand I’d been holding when she told me she wanted to leave.
She looked deep into my eyes.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then she whispered,
“…Eventually.”
My heart sank.
Because she said it so gently.
Like she was trying to make losing her easier for me.
Like she had already decided that she was going to disappear from my life.
“Tabitha, I’ll change.”
Her expression faltered.
“I’ll buy you those stupid gummy worms every day. I’ll skip work. I’ll take a hiatus. Then we’ll be together. Just you and me.”
I was talking too quickly now.
“Whatever it is. I’ll do it. Just…”
My voice cracked.
I swallowed hard, but it didn’t help.
“…just. Please don’t leave me.”
She went completely still.
For the first time since she’d said those words, she looked like she didn’t know what to say.
I tightened my grip on her hand.
“You want more time together? I’ll give you more time.”
My voice was barely above a whisper now.
“You want me to stop working so much? I’ll stop.”
“Damian…”
“No.”
I shook my head.
“Don’t tell me it’s impossible. Don’t tell me you’ve already decided.”
I looked at her, desperately searching her face.
“Just tell me what I have to do.”
Her eyes began to glisten.
And that was when I realized something.
She was crying.
But she was trying so hard not to let me see it.
“Taby…”
She quickly looked away.
“I’m sorry.”
“No.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Stop apologizing.”
I reached for her hand again.
“You’re the one who taught me that if something matters, you fight for it.”
She closed her eyes.
And for one tiny second, I thought she might stay.
Then she whispered,
“That’s exactly why I have to do this.”
