He hooked my legs around his waist. His lips grazed the tip of my nose. "Can you really bear to leave me? Or was last night not enough for you?"
It was always like this.
Every time I needed emotional reassurance, he answered with sex. He drowned my questions in pleasure until I forgot to ask them.
Five years. He had monopolized five years of my life. My entire world revolved around him. Walking away felt like tearing off a limb.
But staying meant losing myself completely.
*It has to end.*
He kissed me fiercely, his hands skilled and demanding. I closed my eyes. A single tear traced a path into my hair.
*Fine.* Tonight would be the funeral for my wasted youth.
---
The next morning, the other side of the bed was cold.
I didn't know when Matthew had finally stopped, but the dark circles under my eyes required three layers of concealer to hide.
I arrived at the office and walked straight to Manager Swanson's office, placing my transfer application on his desk.
On my way back, Valerie Dickerson stepped out of the break room. She spotted me from down the hall, eyebrows shooting up. She adjusted her grip on her coffee cup.
And deliberately veered into my path.
I didn't react in time. We collided.