"YOU NOTICED," SHE said. Her voice weighed down with guilt. Laavanya's throat ran dry. Cameron's voice ringing in her head. All the air from her lungs was stolen but she didn't falter. She had been avoiding this for a long time and it wasn't the right place to face this, but it was the right time.

"Of course, I noticed, Laavanya. I am not an idiot," Cameron said and dropped his hand from her waist. He took a step back from her and it was at that moment she knew that they were over. Long before any of them said it. "What happened?" His voice was constrained but he slipped and she heard a small crack in his voice. "What changed?"

"I did." By now, her eyes had begun to turn red. The water circled in her pupils and it was stinging her eyes to not let them roll down her cheeks. "Everything around me changed."

"What are you saying?"

She paused, afraid of saying what she had been hiding for so many weeks. She had made up her mind. She decided not to tell anyone. It was easier to keep it to herself. To hide what she had been dealing with. But pretending that she was okay was harder than she thought.

"I was harassed at my job, Cam. That's why I left. I didn't quit because there was no place for me to grow, I quit because..." Her lips quivered when she saw the pain unfolding on Cameron's face at her revelation. "...my boss told me I owed him for the promotion that he gave. And that I should...thank him for that."

"Laavanya..." He stepped forward and took both of her hands in his. He squeezed her hand. He couldn't look into her eyes. He stared at the two soft hands between his fingers as Laavanya whimpered at his touch. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I couldn't." Her chest was heavy. "I buried it. I never spoke of it again. I didn't tell anyone because I just couldn't. I rose through my ranks because I wanted to be taken advantage of, not because I was good at what I did. It was humiliating and...painful."

"No, Laav. No." Cameron's eyes were bloodshot red too. He took her face in hers, pulling her close. "I am so sorry you couldn't tell me. I–I wish I wasn't so busy talking about my job that I completely dismissed what you must be feeling. I ...can you forgive me?"

She nodded. "It's not your fault, Cameron. It's mine. I have only been let down by men. My father, my previous boss. I started to believe that you would let me down too. That's why I stopped saying I love you. I thought it would hurt less once you leave me." She sobbed. "But it hurts a lot."

"I don't want to leave you."

"Cameron, I can't be with you.. I am not the Laavanya you love. I don't know how to love you and you don't deserve this. Leave me. Don't see me like this. Please go before I hurt you more." She wrapped her hand around his wrist and pulled his hand away from her face, both of them in tears. "Go."

"Don't do this." They were crying. She didn't know if everyone was watching them or if her entire firm had heard them break up but she didn't care. Cameron, the man she once loved with whole heart, was crying because she couldn't love him the same way. It was all her fault.  "No." He shook his head, taking a step back. "If you don't love me, that's fine. We will figure—"

"I am letting you go because I love you. Please walk away, Cameron." Cameron didn't move. He simply watched her cry while sniffing back his own tears. "Please," she sobbed. "Please."

So he did.

He walked away.

And she stood there amidst the crowd of her colleagues as her heart screamed for some—any warmth of comfort. But she had let him go. She couldn't handle his love. She couldn't make him feel loved. She had learnt to be alone for so long and Cameron had taught her what it was like being in love. Cameron wasn't her first love but he was the first to love her back.

And she broke his heart.

And then making his way through the crowd, Ryker approached her.

"Let me drop you home," he said. It was an order.

"Ryker..."

"Hush," he said. He stood tall, keeping his distance from her. He showed no sign of vulnerability or any crack in his face for anything more. He simply stood there, not taking no for an answer. "Come with me."

She hesitated but followed him to his car anyway. He opened the door for her and she slipped inside. Her face was still hot with embarrassment and pain. She couldn't stop crying, but at least she wasn't shaking hysterically anymore. Ryker drove off and he didn't say anything at all. The only sound in the car was of Laavanya's soft sobs as she re-lived all of her memories with Cameron.

Once they reached her apartment, Ryker stood near her before she could open the door of her apartment. He buried his hands in his pocket and only then his face cracked and a worried look layered on his face. "I am emailing a letter to the HR and giving you the permission to work at home for a week. I will send a draft to you too. If you need more time, call or text me."

"Thank you," she mumbled. Ryker nodded and was about to turn around to leave when said, "Aren't you curious to know what happened?"

"No," he said as he locked her gaze in his.. "As long as you will be okay, I don't want to know. Take care, Laavanya. I will see you soon."

"Ryker..." she called him out. She wanted to say thank you. She was grateful to him for his gesture but she couldn't find any words. She didn't know what to say. "I...uh,"

"You'll get through this." His lips twitched up a little. "Goodnight, Laav."

He has never been the best with words but today, he had said everything Laavanya wanted to hear.

well.