Leave Before You Love Me

The morning sunlight streamed in through the gap in his curtains, but the light felt foreign, as if it refused to touch his puffy eyes. Last night, tears had been his friend, accompanying every breath that felt so heavy. On the nightstand, a plain white envelope lay. No sender's name, no decoration. The simplicity pierced his heart.

With an unsteady hand, he reached for the envelope. His mind guessed at the contents of the letter. A short note? Or perhaps... an ending? He took a deep breath, before finally unfolding the paper inside.

The handwriting was so familiar, so beautiful to his eyes.

He crumpled the letter. The woman who had filled his days with laughter and love for the past 500 days. The woman who made him believe that happiness was real. And now, she was gone.

Their meeting took place in a library in the corner of the city. She, a writer looking for inspiration, and he, a photographer capturing the city. A light conversation about art and inspiration led them to a deeper, more personal conversation. From then on, there was not a day that passed without them exchanging updates.

She, with her big smile, with her playful eyes, managed to melt his heart that had been tightly closed. They shared dreams, laughter, and even tears. He was convinced that she was his soulmate.

However, as time went on, he began to feel a wall being built between them. There was a secret she hid behind her smile. Whenever he tried to ask her more about her past, she was always evasive.

At first, he tried to understand. Maybe she just wasn't ready to share. Maybe there was a past trauma that still haunted her. However, as time went on, the lack of candor began to raise doubts in his heart. Did she really love him? Or is there a part of her that she can't give?

He tried several times to end the relationship. He was tired of the uncertainty. However, every time he saw her pleading eyes, his heart melted again. He loved her too much to leave her. He hoped that, with his love, he could heal her wounds, break down the wall that separated them.

However, the reality was much more painful. She chose to leave, before he could fall deeper in love with her. She chose to end it all, before the wounds of her past destroyed their happiness.

He limped to the window of his room. He saw that the streets below were bustling with morning activities. However, to his eyes, everything was blurry and colorless. She was gone, taking with her most of his soul.

He reached for his cell phone. His fingers moved hesitantly over the screen, searching for her name in his contacts. He wanted to call her, ask her to come back, tell her how much he loved her and how he was willing to face all the scars of her past together.

However, he decided against it. She had made her decision. And although his heart was broken, he knew that he had to honor that decision.

He rose to his feet, with what strength he had left. His tears had dried up, but his heart still ached. He stepped out of his room, leaving her letter lying on the bed.

He knew that his journey would not be easy without her. There would be days when he would feel lonely and miss her. However, he also knew that he couldn't stay down in sadness.

He will keep all those beautiful memories. He will remember her smile, her laugh, and all the love they once shared. However, he will also learn to let go. Letting go of the past, and opening up to a future that might hold another happiness.

She was right. Sometimes, leaving is the only way to protect a love that is too much. And he, with a heavy heart, will learn to accept that leaving. He will learn to live, even without the woman who once made him feel so loved. He will learn to bloom again, even though his heart has withered. He will leave, before his love for her destroys itself.