"Why does everyone leave?" she asked me. She had showed up at my door, bawling her eyes out. I let her in, holding her until she was calm again. She proceeded to tell me how her asshole of a boyfriend (I totally called that by the way) cheated on her. She found out and confronted him, receiving many, MANY new names.

We were now sitting on my couch, watching her favorite movie. She turned, now facing me. "Am i just that hard to deal with? Am I that difficult to be around?"

She didn't deserve that. No, they didn't deserve her.

I'd never leave. I desperately wanted to tell her everything. Desperately wanted to scream that i would never leave her and tell her that I'd be there forever, whenever she needed me.

But the words refused to leave my mouth.

Instead, every time she broke, i picked up the pieces. Seeing her this way hurt every single time.

I had known her since middle school. After liking her from a far, i finally got the nerve to talk to her at a dance in seventh grade.

*flash back*

Just go talk to her!

A small voice in my head kept telling me.

The worst thing that could happen is she doesn't hear you.

The voice tried to reason with me.

Okay, I said to myself. I got this. I'll ask about the song that's playing. She'll probably know and then we can segue into a normal conversation. I barely even noticed that i had began to walk towards her.

"Uh..hey." i said tapping her on the shoulder. She turned around and faced me. She was even prettier up close.

"Sup?" She asked.

"Do-uhhh-do you know what song this is"

That conversation started everything. She showed me all of her favorite bands and songs. LAter that year she told me her story, everything from her brother's middle name to her anxiety and depression.

*End of flashback*

I've been there through everything. I've seen her at her worst, at her best, through every panic attack, every breakdown.

If only she could understand that I'd never leave.

"Why does everyone leave?" she asked again, leaning into my shoulder.

"Not everyone has left you. Anyone who has is an idiot." I said before i could filter my words.

"Who hasn't?"she asked "Everyone that I think cares, leaves."

Dammit I'm still here!

"I'm not leaving anytime soon." I told her.

"That's the thing though. One day you will. You'll leave like everyone else. No one stays."

With those words my heart broke. It felt as if someone stabbed me in the chest but i was still alive to feel the pain.

"No, stop, just stop. Why would I leave? If I was just going to leave , why would i have waited this long?" The words falling from my mouth faster than I could stop them. "If I was just going to leave, i wouldn't have waited this long. I'm not leaving, even if you wanted me to because i don't even think i could." She looked at me shocked.

"Why haven't you left? No one has ever cared like you do. Why do you care?" Her cheeks were stained with tears.

Before i could stop myself i said " Because I care. Because i've cared since middle school. Because i have this dumb idea that maybe one day, you'll love me the way i love you."

She looked at me shocked as i continued to puke up my feelings. "Because you're amazing and i could never handle the thought of of you feeling the way you used to. Because i can't handle the thought of leaving you because that would mean losing you. But now my best bet is that you'll leave me because now life will be awkward because you don't love me"

I didn't mean to say any of it. My inner thoughts were supposed to be just that, inner thoughts.

I looked away. I couldn't look at her expression. It'd probably be one of disgust. "I get it if you want to leave" I told her, fighting back tears. "I also get it if you don't want me in your life anymore."

I did get it. But part of me knew that i wouldn't be able to let her leave.

I felt her turn my head. Before i could question it she crashed her lips onto mine. They moved in perfect sync. Her hand never left my face. I moved my hands to her hips, holding her as we kissed. Sadly, her lips left mine.

"Promise you won't leave me" she said after our lips parted.

"I'd never"

And then...

I woke up.