Tessa could not bring herself to get out of bed, sobbing nonstop after having learned that Ryle was cheating on her. All of her friends made an effort one by one to come and try to cheer her up. She appreciated their efforts but she just wanted to be alone.

She was either crying or sleeping and even now she had just woken up again. With puffy and bloodshot eyes she blankly staring to see the sun setting outside her window, swallowing and realizing that her throat was parched and dry.

"Want something to eat?" A voice speaking had her jump back in shock, pulling the duvet closer to her chest before catching sight of Daniel leaning against her archway, dressed in charcoal grey dress pants and a white button up, his hair gelled back with his suit jacket hanging behind the kitchen chair. "When was the last time you ate something, Bambi?" He sighed and moved back into the kitchen.

Tessa lay in her bed, silently listening to him move about the kitchen until she finally decided to go to him since the delicious smell of the food had her stomach grumbling with hunger.

Stumbling into the kitchen, Daniel saw her stand before him in an oversized sleep shirt with the shoulder falling off and her hair a disheveled mess.

"Come, sit down," He gestured to the seat as Tessa did as told, Daniel putting a heaved plate of spinach and ricotta pasta before her with cheese grated on top. "Eat up," He sat down opposite her as he watched her stab the pasta with her fork before rolling it around and eating it.

"How did you get in?" She asked finally, her throat scratchy as Daniel handed her a glass of water.

"I asked Jeremy for his keys to your place," He revealed, watching her eat in silence. "I came the last two days but you wouldn't open and I got worried so I asked Jeremy to give me his keys. Good thing I did, because you look like you haven't eaten in days,"

Tessa simply hummed in response before resuming to eat in silence.

"How are you?" He asked her gently, reaching out and touching her hand. Tessa looked up at him at the question, given her state was evident from her appearance.

"Like shit," She stated bluntly, fumbling around with her food.

"I'm so sorry, Tessa," Daniel retreated his hand as she looked up at him at the words. "If I hadn't said anything-"

"-Shut up," She said. "Don't you dare say this is your fault, its Ryle's for breaking my heart, and mine for not knowing any better,"

"Baby, you were in love, you can't blame yourself," Daniel stood from his place, grabbing his suit jacket and putting it back on.

"You know, I dated him because he reminded me of you. As a matter of fact all the guys I went out with, I dated them because they had a trait of yours," Tessa spoke quietly following him up as Daniel looking at her in silence, waiting for her to continue. "But as it ends up, he was nothing like you, no one was like you,"

Tessa watched him look at the door momentarily as if though he's trying to decide to leave or speak. She can see the twitch in his jaw right before he locks eyes with her.

"If you ever need me, I want you to call me," He says. "But only if it's an emergency. I'm not capable of being casual with you, Tessa."

She was taken aback by his words, but only momentarily. As much as she wasn't expecting him to admit it, he's absolutely right. Since the day they met, there has been nothing casual about their relationship. It's either all in or not in at all. That's why he separated ties after she went off to Brooklyn. He knew that a casual friendship would never work between them. It would be too painful.

Apparently, that hasn't changed.

"Goodbye, Daniel." Saying those words again tears her up almost as much as the first time she had to say them. He winces and then turns and walks to the door like he can't leave fast enough. When the door closes behind him, Tessa walks over and locks it, then presses her head against it.

Two days ago, she was asking herself how her life could get any better. Today she is asking herself how her life could get any worse.

She jumps back with the sudden knock at the door. It's only been ten seconds since he walked out, so she knows it's him. She unlocks and opens the door and is suddenly pressed against something soft and warm. Daniel's arms wrap tightly around her, desperately, and his lips are pressed against the side of her head.

She closes her eyes shut and finally lets the tears fall. She has cried so many tears for Ryle over these past few days, she has no idea how she still has tears left for Daniel. But she does, because they are falling down her cheeks like rain.

"Tessa," he whispers, still holding her tightly. "I know this is the last thing you need to hear right now. But I need to say it because I have walked away from you too many times without saying what I wanted to say."

He pulls back to look down at her and when he sees the tears, he brings his hand up to her cheeks and wipes them with his thumb.

"In the future...if by some miracle you ever find yourself in the position to fall in love again...fall in love with me." He presses his lips against her forehead. "You're still my favorite person, Bambi. You always will be."

He releases her and walks away, not even needing a response.

When she closes the door again, she slides to the floor. Her heart feels like it wants to give up. She can't blame it. It's suffered through two separate heartaches in the course of two days. And she has a feeling it's going to be a long time before either one of these heartaches can even begin to heal.