I drove Willow back to her car as soon as we finished our coffees because I was terrified that she'd change her mind. By the time I got home, I felt better. At the end of the day, she didn't leave me. I was able to keep her by my side.

It was a sleepless night spent pouring over every memory of our relationship. I smiled as I thought about so many things. When I accidentally squirted water on the front of her shirt. The way she tried so hard to keep up with me during tennis. The magic of our first kiss.

I love everything about her. Girls have come and gone in my life, but no one has ever stuck with me the way that she has. I've never met anyone who I couldn't stop thinking about. It seems like every waking moment since we started dating, I've been focused on doing everything that I can to make Willow happy. I honestly don't know where I went wrong.

Whatever the case, I have to make it right again.

The next morning at work, I make it a point to cross paths with her as much as possible. I shadow her data entry more than necessary just because I want to be close to her. She barely looks at me, and there's a sickness in my chest knowing that this is going to be a process. But even worse, not really knowing where to start.

“We should start going on more dates,” I tell her after work. “I think we should go on one right now.”

She seems to cringe away from the idea. “Peter, I'm not really in the mood right now.”

“Please, Willow.” I face her and take her hands in mine. “Just a few minutes in my car. It would really mean a lot to me.”

She forces a smile and follows me. All the way to my vehicle, I'm internally panicking. It feels like I'm trying to paddle up a raging river. One wrong move and my canoe will topple over and I'll drown. I can't allow that to happen.

We sit in my car, and I feel the urge to drive away with her. To kidnap her to somewhere that will make her smile—that will make her happy to be with me again.

“Where do you want to go?” I ask, pressing the button for the ignition. “We can go out to eat or a movie. Whatever you want. Tonight is all about you.”

She gives me a pained look. “Peter, don't.”

“Don't what?” I pretend to be oblivious to the fact that I'm acting irrationally desperate.

Willow sinks into the seat a little. “I spent all night thinking about this.”

“I did, too.”

“Let me finish.” She holds out her hand to stop me. I don't want her to stop me because I fear that I know what's coming next.

“Fine,” I relent, bracing myself for the worst.

“I thought about it last night, and I really can't be with you anymore. There's no way we're going to be able to make this work. I'm sorry.” Her expression is full of empathy.

It feels like my heart has dropped to my feet and been stomped on. I don't want to accept what she's saying. This feels no different than last night. I refuse to give up.

“We can make this work,” I insist.

“No, we can't.”

“It's because you love him." I nod. "Of course, you do.” I tear my hands through my hair. “Why wouldn't you? He's a great guy. You've spent lots of time together. It's only natural you'd eventually develop feelings for him. But you can't be with him now, so what's the point?”

She doesn't speak, so I continue, trying to calm myself a bit. “You know, I never thought I'd want to get married. Not for a long time at least. I wanted to go through life being a player for as long as possible. But then you walked into my life, and it was like...a fucking hurricane. You completely destroyed everything I thought I knew about myself—everything I thought I wanted.

“Now when I wake up in the morning, all I see is you. All I want is to be by your side.

“When I look into your eyes, I see what could be. I can see our unborn children. I can see us living in a house together with one of those stupid fucking white picket fences...or whatever you might want.” I shake my head, trying to alleviate some of the pain coursing through me. My hands are starting to tremble, and I can feel tears searing my eyes. I don't cry. Ever. So I know this is the real shit. My heart is being broken for the first time. And God damn does it ever hurt. “Please tell me there's a way to fix this. Please tell me it's not really over.” I look at her, and I can't even pretend to be composed anymore because I'm completely falling apart.

She stares forward, her face emotionless. “I'm sorry, Peter.” Then she digs through her purse and hands me a box. I know what's inside. She wasn't wearing the necklace I gave her today. I had hoped she had just forgotten it at home. But that's obviously not the case.

When I don't reach out to take the box, she sets it on the dashboard. Then she opens the door and climbs out of my car.

I'm shell-shocked. I can't move. Can't breathe. I just want to die.

The best thing I've ever had in my entire life just walked away from me, and I can't get her back.