The night had gone well. Becky lay on her bed the next morning, snuggling her pillow as she thought about Kane. He hadn't tried anything on her, which was a relief because Rob had been, and still was, on her mind. At least the party and Kane had given her some reprieve from that agony.

Becky rolled on her back and stared at the ceiling. She had been doing that a lot lately, and now knew the paint work as well as she did the diagrams of human bodies she'd been studying.

Kane and she had sat and talked all night. He'd made her laugh with his antics and challenged her perception of the world as she knew it. Becky had come to the conclusion that he was a deep thinker. Kane knew about things she'd never heard of. It made her realise how small her universe was and that there was so much more to see and learn.

He hadn't once asked her a personal question, which Becky had appreciated. She'd let him direct the conversation but he had never mentioned himself other than likes or dislikes to do with the subject matter. She knew nothing more than she already did of his private life as the conversation never veered into that area. Becky smiled at the thought of his deep, steady voice.

From memory, the conversation had meandered along slowly, weaving from one subject to the other without a hitch. What she had learned was that he liked literary fiction rather than commercial. He loved Ed Sheeran as a singer song writer but hated boy bands. He thought of schizophrenics as people who lived in two dimensions. His thoughts were along the line of, who were we to judge if the person you see talking to no one on the street was really crazy? That perhaps it was because they had an open mind and could really see and speak to other people in different planes of the universe in which they lived. Kane had the belief that reincarnation was a huge possibility, and time travel into the future was more probable than into the past. He thought the core of the world's problems existed because people were more focused on their own agendas, mostly based on greed and power, instead of care for the actual planet. She and Rob had never talked about such things.

Becky wondered if this lack of depth in her and Rob's conversation made what they had superficial. Perhaps their relationship had just been a teenage crush? She, being a girl in need, and he needed to be a hero. A tear trickled down her face as an intense pressing ache caught in her chest. It'd felt like so much more. Becky sucked in a breath and wiped her tears away. It was or had definitely been more, that much she was certain of, but now? Rob was moving on. He'd lied. She knew it. Becky couldn't blame him. His life was changing as was hers. She'd tried to hold onto what it was. However, that was impossible. Everyone knew life evolved on a daily basis, and by trying to stop that change, she'd isolated and stunted her growth as a person.

As she analysed the last year of her life, Becky came to the conclusion that Rob was meant to be there for her in those terrible months. A greater power had lent him to her just for a while, and she had no right to try and own him. She knew also that what she felt for him was true love, but now the time had come to end it.

This moment was a new chapter in their lives. The page was turning. She could see it lifting; the curve of the leaf of paper waiting for one of them to slide their finger under the parchment and flip it fully. It had to be her. She was the one who needed to set him free. Rob had restored her life, and now she must return his to him. She'd make sure they were never back in Rockhampton at the same time. This way, neither of them would ever have to question the decision. Pain burnt in the back of her nostrils. Perhaps she could fold down the corner of that page and come back to this chapter years down the track. She'd look him up. Meet his wife. See him as the wonderful father she knew he would be one day. This would be her gift to him.

Her phone rang. Becky lifted it to see Rob's name flash on the screen. She couldn't answer it. If she heard his voice, she wouldn't be able to hold back the stem of tears she had stored up. Becky dismissed the call and started to type.

Hi Rob, I apologise for not taking your calls. I'm sorry to have to tell you this but I've met someone else and have been unfaithful to you. It just happened, and I have no excuse. My shame won't let me speak to you in person, and I know this is really cowardly of me telling you over text message, but I'm breaking up with you. Please know that I am so grateful for everything you've done for me. You have been the best thing to ever happen to me in my life, but now it's over. Please stop ringing me because I won't answer and will be blocking your number. I'm also ending our social media contact. I do love you, Rob, but not as I did. I wish you all the best and will contact your mum, dad, and Linc to tell them, so you don't have to. I suspect your parents realised that before we did that, this would eventually happen. I am so sorry that I'm hurting you.

Becky paused. Was she really hurting him? Was it wrong to assume that breaking up would hurt him? Perhaps he'd sigh in relief when he read this message. She didn't want to presume too much, so she deleted the last sentence and wrote. I am so sorry if I've hurt you. Lots of love, Becky. ♥♥♥ Again, she paused. Becky sucked in a lungful of air and held her finger over the send button. The hearts just didn't feel right if she was breaking up with him, so she deleted them and quickly sent the message into the dark cloud of no return.

So it begins.

Or should I say ends.

Poor Becky. What a decision to have to make. :(

Copyright © 2020 by Donna Fieldhouse. All rights reserved.

This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever
without the express written permission of the author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. Characters and incidents are products of the author's imagination. Any resemblances to actual events or persons, living or dead, are entirely coincidental.