EVERYTHING HAS a beginning and an end.

It was something Verona had learned over the years. She learned it as she watched the flowers wither; she learned it as she gripped the hand of her dying grandfather.

She'd gone through several relationships, starting them and ending them. And even though she knew everything would come to an end, it never dulled the ache of losing someone.

Even in the two times she broke up with Roman, there was a never end to Verona-and-Roman. They'd stayed in contact, stayed friends, despite everything surrounding them.

Roman had been a constant in her life, before Katrina, before Leo, before everything. She had known Roman like every particle sparking in her own body. She had thought of him as the sun, a warmth and comfort in the darkest of her days.

The two of them had always spun on their own axis, spinning around each other, their force pulling on each other. It had never quite mattered to her at first, the pull of him and the push of her.

But now, she realized how foolish she had been.

Who was she in trying to keep him? The truth faced her now- everything came to an end, and the fall of Verona-and-Roman was beginning.

It had began before she even knew it, and now that she saw it, she could hardly bear it.

~

SHE FELT his presence before she saw him.

She glanced up at his unusually solemn face. Verona leaped up to wrap her arms around her, in an unexpected act of affection. He stiffened under her touch before hesitantly wrapping his arms around her.

"She was like a second mom to me." Verona whispered into his shoulder, tears leaking down her face, "I don't know what to do."

He didn't respond, patting her gently on the back.

"Verona." He said, pulling her away from him.

"What is it?" She asked, her eyes searching his.

There was a look of regret and shame in his eyes as he gazed at her, leaving a pang of panic in Verona's heart.

"I'm sorry." He sighed out, "I think we need to break up."

"What?" She flinched, reeling from his words, "What? This is the time I need you the most."

"I'm sorry. I can't be that person for you. I can't comfort you."

"I don't need you comfort me, I just need you to be here for me." Verona furrowed her brow, "I don't understand."

"I can't help you through this. I really can't."

"Why are you breaking up with me now? I understand why you broke up with me last time, your mom left. But now I need you as a friend and as my boyfriend." She pleaded.

"I can't do this."

"Because it's too much responsibility?" Verona gave a choked laugh, "Because it's too much to have someone who needs you? I'm grieving, and you dump me now of all times."

"I can't be the person you need. It's too much for me."

"Really, Roman?" Verona looked away, blinking back the fresh tears pooling in her eyes, "That's a jerk move, really. And you can't, or you don't want to?"

"I'm sorry."

Verona said resolutely, a spine of steel in her words, "If you do this, there's no more chances. I don't do third chances."

Roman met her gaze, "I understand."

"Do you remember what you promised after last time?" Verona shut her eyes, "You promised you wouldn't hurt me anymore."

Roman bite his lips.

"Roman, you've hurt me more than anyone."

~~~
A/N: OK I'M SORRY YOU CAN HATE ME. I know I haven't updated this in forever and I'm super sorry, but this is now a priority for me to finish.