Page 32 of Freeing Emily
I turn my gaze toward the wildflowers to avoid watching her heartbreak. I watch as a butterfly lands on a bright yellow flower. Its wings are a light orange that darkens on the outer edges. It sways with the breeze for a moment before flying off.
“Emily…” I return my eyes to hers. She watches me with pained blue eyes.
The words are trapped in my throat and refuse to come out.
She deserves more. She will get more with someone else.
“We both knew this relationship wasn’t goin’ to lead to a happy endin’. Conor refused to let us be together from day one. Let’s just accept it for what it is and move on.”
Anger flares in her eyes and she balls her hands into tight fists.
“You’re a coward. You’re not even going to fight for us? What was the point of being with me in the first place?” she says through gritted teeth.
“There is no reason to fight for somethin’ that isn’t even worth it.”
Each word tastes like acid. None of this is true. Emily is worth everything, which is exactly why I need to let her go. She deserves the world, and I can’t give it to her.
“Not worth it?! Are you serious, Liam?” She shouts, her voice echoing.
Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath in through my nose and exhale through my mouth. The world feels like it’s spinning from the force of my blood pumping.
Make her hate you.
“I don’t want you, Emily. You were just a way to pass the time.” My voice is void of emotion.
She presses a palm to her chest as if she’s in physical pain, and I struggle to remain unmoving. Every fiber in my being screams for me to comfort her and beg for forgiveness.
“Liam… I – please...” she stutters.
I gently shake my head, peering at her through pleading eyes to understand that this is for the best.
“Don’t make this harder than it needs to be, Emily.”
“Whatever my dad told you, whatever he threatened, fight it. Fight forme.Pl – please, Liam. Fight for us.” She sobs, her face streaked with her makeup.
“No.” My teeth are seconds from shattering as I clench my jaw. I open and close my fists.
“Why are you doing this?!” she shrieks. “Why?!”
“Emily… Stop. This thing between us is over. Accept it. Move on. Marry Ryan. I. Don’t. Want. You.”
With those parting words, I walk away from the best thing to ever happen to me.
Is this what dying feels like? I can’t breathe. I can’t think. My heart is falling to pieces with each step Liam takes away from me.
Why is he doing this to me? Tous?
“Liam!” I scream.
His steps don’t falter.
Once he’s out of sight, I fall to my knees. My chest physically hurts from the pain of my heart, and I rub my hand against it.
He didn’t fight. He didn’t even try.
What did my father say to him that made him give up on me so easily?
Did I really mean so little to him?