everything has changed ➺ charles leclerc

twenty-five - angeli

Charles flinches at my words, his face contorting with pain. "I know I messed up, Angeli," he says, his voice trembling. "But I thought maybe I could make things right, that we could talk and... and find a way back to each other."

Tears well up in my eyes as I struggle to respond. The physical discomfort intensifies as I try to speak, but my determination outweighs the pain. "You don't get it, do you?" I manage to say, my voice barely above a whisper. "I'm not ready to talk to you. I'm not ready to forgive you. And I don't know if I ever will be."

He takes a step closer, reaching out his hand, but I flinch away, clutching my throat. The pain shoots through me, making it even harder to control my emotions. "Please, Angeli," he pleads, his voice filled with desperation. "I just need a chance to explain, to make amends."

Tears stream down my face as I shake my head, my heart breaking all over again. "You had your chance, Charles," I say, my voice strained and quivering. "You chose someone else, and you broke my heart. You don't get to come back now and expect everything to magically go back to the way it was."

He takes a step closer, concern etched on his face, but I hold up a hand, shaking my head weakly. "Please, Charles," I beg, my voice cracking. "Just go. I can't... I can't do this."

His expression crumples, and he nods, defeated. "I'm sorry, Angeli," he whispers, his voice filled with remorse. "I didn't mean to cause you more pain. I'll leave you alone."

As he walks towards the door, the room feels emptier, yet my heart feels heavier. The conflicting emotions inside me make it hard to breathe. I wanted him to fight for me, to prove that he was truly remorseful, but deep down, I know I'm not ready to face him yet.

As the door closes behind him, I sink back into the hospital bed, tears streaming down my face. The physical pain in my throat intensifies, matching the ache in my heart. It hurts to push him away, but I can't deny the truth—I need time to heal, both physically and emotionally. And for now, that means being alone, even if it feels unbearable.

The emotions swirling inside me threaten to overwhelm my already weakened state. I reach for my phone and text Mick, asking him to come back.

A few moments later, Mick enters the room, his concern evident in his eyes. "Hey, Ange, what's wrong?" he asks gently, taking a seat beside me on the bed.

I wipe away my tears and look at him, my voice still hoarse. "I... I just had a conversation with Charles," I manage to say, my voice trembling. "He wants to make things right, but I'm not ready. It's too soon, Mickie."

Mick's brow furrows with understanding. "I get it, Ange. It's your decision, and you have every right to take the time you need. He hurt you, and healing takes time. Just be careful, I don't trust him yet."

A sense of relief washes over me, knowing that Mick understands– but I can't help but feel torn. A part of me wants to believe that Charles can change, that we can find our way back to each other, but another part remains guarded, unsure if I can trust him again. He threw away decades of friendship for a girl– a bitchy one too.

"Mick, I don't know what to do," I confess, my voice barely a whisper. "I still have feelings for him and he's my best friend, but I'm scared. Scared of getting hurt again."

He places a comforting hand on mine. "Angeli, listen to your heart, but also protect yourself. You've been through a lot, and your well-being should be your priority. If you're not ready to talk to him, then take the time you need. Don't rush into anything."

I nod, appreciating Mick's words of wisdom. "Thank you, Mick," I say softly, a mix of gratitude and sadness in my voice. "I just wish it wasn't so hard."

Mick squeezes my hand gently. "I know, Ange. Healing isn't easy, and it takes time. But remember, you're strong, and you'll come out of this even stronger."

"When did you get so wise, Mickoli?" I chuckle, leaning my head on his shoulder.

"I've always been wise, you just like to tune me out when I speak."

NOTE: hi everyone!! I hope you enjoyed this chapter!! sorry it took a while to put out, I needed a bit of a break to get some inspo again. 

I tried something new with this chapter with adding more dialogue. what do you guys think? 

as per usual, what did you guys think of the chapter? what are your predictions? what do you wanna see?

see you all soon <3 your comments and votes mean SOSOSO much to me!