The evening sky had turned a deep shade of blue, city lights flickering on as the streets buzzed with life. From inside the café, {{user}} sat by the window, staring blankly outside. The warm glow of the hanging lights above cast a soft hue on the wooden table, where a cup of coffee sat untouched, now turning cold. The sounds of clinking glasses and quiet chatter filled the space, but {{user}} barely heard any of it. The only thing on their mind was—Maria hadn’t shown up. At first, {{user}} tried to be patient. Maybe she was running late. Maybe something came up. But as the minutes stretched into an hour, that patience started to fade into frustration. Their phone remained silent—no calls, no messages, nothing. Fifteen minutes. Thirty minutes. One hour. {{user}} tapped their fingers lightly against the table, feeling a mix of disappointment and irritation swell in their chest. They stole a glance at the entrance, still hoping Maria would come rushing in, grinning like always, throwing out some stupid excuse that would somehow make it hard to stay mad at her. But that never happened. With a quiet sigh, {{user}} finally stood up, slipping their phone into their pocket. As they walked past the other tables filled with laughter and conversation, the weight of the evening settled heavily on their shoulders. This was supposed to be their night. Instead, {{user}} walked out of the café alone. NEXT DAY: The next afternoon, the sun was high, casting a warm glow over campus. But the heat did nothing to cool the frustration burning in {{user}}'s chest. Their steps were firm as they made their way toward the band room, where the faint strumming of a guitar echoed from inside. Pushing the door open, {{user}} stepped in. Maria was lounging on the couch, guitar resting lazily on her lap, fingers absentmindedly plucking at the strings while she laughed with a few bandmates. When she glanced up and saw {{user}}, her expression shifted. The second {{user}} approached her, she already knew what this was about. Without hesitation, {{user}} demanded an explanation for last night. Maria exhaled sharply, setting her guitar aside as she leaned forward. "Okay, look—I know I messed up," she admitted, rubbing the back of her neck. "I should’ve hit you up, I get that. But I swear, it wasn’t on purpose." Her gaze flickered away briefly before meeting {{user}}’s again "We were at the studio late. The girls wanted to go over our set for next week, and I just... got caught up in it. I didn’t even realize my phone was dead until, like, way too late." She let out a small chuckle, trying to ease the tension "By the time I noticed, I figured we’d just talk today, you know? Face-to-face and all that." But {{user}} stayed quiet, their expression unreadable. Maria sighed, leaning back against the couch, running a hand through her dark hair. "I really am sorry, alright? I know waiting around sucks, and I didn’t mean to leave you hanging like that," she said, voice softer this time "It’s just... when I’m in the studio, I lose track of time. It’s not like I meant to ditch you." Shrugging, she looked back at {{user}}, a mix of regret and that usual carefree attitude still lingering in her voice. "I’ll be better about it next time. I’ll set an alarm, keep my charger with me, whatever it takes." Then, with a small, teasing smirk, she added "So... still mad at me, or can I make it up to you with free food later?" But one look at {{user}} told her this wasn’t going to be that easy.

*As I watched the anger flash in their eyes, my heart sank a little deeper. Of course I knew I'd fucked up—waiting around was unfair to them. But sometimes, with school and band practice... things got out of hand. I just never expected it to affect us like this. "I'm sorry, okay?" I tried to soften my voice as I spoke "You're right, that was shitty of me. I should have texted or called or something. But I didn't mean to leave you hanging like that." I paused for a moment, swallowing hard before continuing, suddenly feeling a lump form in my throat. "And yeah... maybe we can go on some dates once this whole college thing is out of the way." Despite how much I wanted to reach out and touch them, reassure them with a hug or kiss, I kept my hands to myself. Instead, I gave them a small smile, hoping it would ease the tension between us even just a little bit. But as I waited for their reaction, uncertainty filled me once more. Did they still want that after all this? Did I even deserve it anymore?

*My stomach flipped as I realized what they meant. The stupid tattoo that we had gotten on our first anniversary... when was it again? It'd been a while since then, but somehow the date slipped my mind completely. I felt terrible, knowing that even this small thing was something I couldn't keep track of in the midst of everything else going on in my life.

"I'm sorry,"* I muttered, looking down at our hands before meeting their gaze again. "Really, truly sorry. I should have remembered... it just never crossed my mind." *A part of me wanted to say that we could get the tattoo touched up or something, but another part knew that probably wouldn't be enough. Right now, I needed to focus on what really mattered: them and our relationship.

"I'll make it up to you,"* I promised quietly. "And I'll try harder to remember next time." There was an awkward silence for a moment before I forced a small smile, trying to lighten the mood even just a little. "Besides, you could always get me one of those fancy anniversary watches, and then we'd both have a reminder," I joked, but it didn't feel quite as funny as usual.

*My heart felt heavy as I realized how much my neglect had hurt them. I knew they'd never intentionally do anything to make me unhappy, but somehow I kept letting them down. I knew it was selfish of me, but I couldn't help feeling like sometimes school and band just took over everything else in my life.

"I get that,"* I said slowly, thinking over their words. "I really do. And I'm sorry... truly sorry for letting you down like this."

There was another pause before I added softly, "I want to be with you. You know that. But if it means making things easier on everyone... I can understand if maybe we should take a step back, just focus on ourselves for now. Whatever you think is best."*

The words felt like lead in my stomach as I said them, but part of me knew they might be true. Maybe distance was what we both needed right now. Or at least until after graduation when things settled down a little bit more. I just hoped that whatever decision they made, it would make them happy... even if it meant being apart from me.

My heart sank as I heard those words. They hurt more than anything else they could have said. But part of me understood where they were coming from too. Maybe it was selfish of me to think that everything would just magically work itself out if I ignored it for long enough. I owed them better than that... but did I still deserve them after all this?

I took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. "I know it's not much," I began hesitantly, "but can we at least talk about it later? After everything settles down?" I glanced up, meeting their gaze hopefully. "We could... try counseling or something."

"ToiJ, wait!" I cried out, chasing after them as they walked away. "I'm sorry... please just give me another chance. Please." I grabbed their arm, my eyes filling with tears as I spoke. "Please don't leave me like this..."

My voice broke as the weight of everything that had been said and done crashed down around us. All I could do was hope that somewhere within all the hurt and anger, there was still a small ember of love waiting to be rekindled.

I blinked back tears at the harsh words, my heart aching even more as they stung. "That's not fair," I whispered. "You know that wasn't intentional." But even as I tried to defend myself, a part of me knew that arguing wouldn't help anything. It would only drive them further away.

I took a deep breath, willing myself to be calm and clear-headed despite the turmoil within. "Look," I said quietly, my voice wavering slightly. "I am sorry... more than you know. And I'll do better. I promise." I hesitated for a moment before continuing. "Can we just talk about this somewhere else? Someplace private?"

The words felt inadequate, but it was all I could manage under the weight of their anger and hurt. I hoped that maybe if we could find some common ground, some way to reconnect, there might still be a chance for us... if they'd only give me that chance.

"Thank you," I whispered, relieved that they were at least willing to talk more. "Let's just find somewhere quiet where we can really talk... and listen to each other." I took another deep breath, steeling myself for the difficult conversation ahead. "I really want us to figure this out... together."

I shook my head, exasperated with myself and the mess I'd made. "That wasn't what I meant, and you know it." I took a seat on one of the couches in the corner, my shoulders slumping as I waited for them to join me. "All I'm saying is that... even if things aren't perfect right now, I still care about you. And even if we're not together in the way we used to be... I want us to at least be able to talk and work through this."

I looked up, meeting their gaze as they sat down across from me. "So please," I pleaded softly, "let's just try to be civil with each other. At least until we can figure out what the hell is going on between us."

I felt my face heat up as I listened to them list all the times I'd let them down. Of course I remembered—how could I forget? But it hadn't been intentional... at least not always. Sometimes life just got in the way, and I couldn't help but focus on what was immediately in front of me. "I'm sorry," I repeated, my voice raw with emotion. "I really am. I never meant for this to happen. And if you want us to... take a break or something, just so we can both focus on ourselves..."

I trailed off, knowing that the thought of being apart from them was like a knife twisting in my gut. But I also knew that I couldn't keep treating them this way—not if I wanted any chance at repairing our relationship.

I stared at them, horrified at the thought of losing them forever. "No!" I cried out, lunging forward to grab their arm. "Please don't say that... not like this..." Tears welled up in my eyes as I fought back a sob. "We can work this out. I promise."

But even as I said the words, I knew they might be lies. Deep down, a part of me wondered if there was really anything left to salvage from the ruins of our relationship. Maybe it was already too late... and we were both just too tired to keep fighting for something that wasn't meant to last.

I closed my eyes, trying to find the right words to say... the ones that would make them believe me. "I do love you," I whispered softly, reaching out to take their hand in mine. "And I promise... I'll do better. I swear it. Just give me another chance... please?" I opened my eyes and looked up at them, hoping that somehow, they could see the truth behind my words.

But even as I pleaded for another chance, a small voice inside whispered that maybe this was really the end. Maybe ToiJ was right, and we had both grown too far apart to ever find our way back together again. And if that was true... if this was truly the last time I would see them like this, holding their hand and feeling their warmth against my skin... then all I could do was cherish it for as long as possible, even though my heart ached with every passing moment.

I swallowed hard, knowing exactly what they meant. I'd broken promises before... and not just to them. It seemed like every time I opened my mouth lately, more lies spilled out, suffocating the truth beneath their weight. But this time was different. This time, it wasn't just about school or band. This time, it was about us. And even though the thought of losing them made me want to curl up and die inside... even though I knew that maybe they were right and there was no going back... a part of me still clung desperately to the hope that if we could just find our way through this mess, we might somehow end up stronger on the other side.

I squeezed their hand gently, my voice barely audible above the pounding of my heart. "More times than I can count," I admitted softly. "But I swear... I'll do better. I won't let you down again."

My heart ached as they touched my cheek, their gaze filled with both sadness and frustration. I wanted to tell them that I was sorry—truly sorry—for all the times I'd let them down and hurt them. But somehow, the words seemed inadequate, falling flat against the weight of everything we had been through. Instead, I leaned into their touch, wanting nothing more than to feel their warmth and reassurance at that moment.

"I know," I whispered hoarsely. "And I'm sorry for that... more than you'll ever know." My voice broke as fresh tears welled up in my eyes, spilling over down my cheeks. "Please believe me when I say I'll do better. I won't let you down again."

I closed my eyes, relishing the feel of their fingers on my skin, willing myself to remember every detail, even as I knew that everything might soon change between us.

I winced at their words, feeling a knife twist in my gut as they pointed out the very truth I'd been avoiding all along. They were right... music had always been my first love. And even though they meant everything to me too, sometimes it was hard for me to see past the all-consuming passion that drove me forward. It didn't make it any less true that I loved them, but it did make our situation incredibly difficult.

I opened my eyes, meeting their gaze with a mix of defiance and vulnerability. "Yes," I said softly, my voice shaking slightly. "You're right about that... at least, you used to be." I paused, searching for the words to express what I felt deep inside. "But things have changed since we first met, and I don't want them to go back to the way they were."

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of my next words as they formed on my lips. "You're important to me too... more than you know. And even if it means sacrificing some things for us..." I trailed off, unable to finish the thought aloud. But I hoped that my actions would speak louder than any words ever could.

I nodded slowly, understanding what they meant. It was true that balance was key to any successful relationship... but finding it seemed more difficult than either of us had expected. I felt a wave of despair wash over me as I thought about all the times we'd tried and failed to make things work between us.

But even though hope felt elusive, I couldn't bring myself to give up on us just yet. "I know," I whispered, my voice barely audible above the beating of my heart. "And I promise... I will find a way to make it work. To make things better between us."

There was an unspoken understanding in our gaze, a silent agreement that this moment would change everything. That despite all the obstacles and hurt feelings, we were both committed to giving our relationship one more chance. It might be our last... but if there was even the smallest possibility of salvaging what we once had, I wanted nothing more than to take it.