The Threads That Bind Us

Chapter 23

Later that evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the grounds, Fidelity caught sight of Noah near the lake. Her heart quickened, and for a moment, she felt a surge of hope. Maybe this was her chance to finally get through to him.

She hurried over to him, calling his name. He turned, his face hard to read in the fading light. "Noah, can we talk?"

He hesitated, then nodded.

They walked in silence for a while, the cold air biting at their skin. Finally, Fidelity couldn't take it anymore. "Noah, please. I need to know what's going on. You've been avoiding me for days, and I can't keep pretending like everything's okay."

Noah stopped walking, his hands clenched at his sides. He didn't meet her gaze as he spoke. "Fidelity, I think... I think we need to take a break."

Her heart plummeted, the words hitting her like a physical blow. "A... break? What do you mean? We've only been together for a couple of weeks."

Noah's voice was strained, like it was taking all his effort to speak. "I just... I have a lot going on, and I don't want to drag you into it. It's not fair to you."

Fidelity's breath caught in her throat. "Not fair? Noah, you're not dragging me into anything. I want to be there for you—whatever it is."

But Noah shook his head, his expression tortured. "It's not that simple. You deserve better than someone who can't even figure out his own life right now."

Tears stung the back of her eyes. "I don't care about any of that! I care about you. We're supposed to be in this together."

"I know, Fidi," Noah whispered, finally meeting her gaze, his own eyes filled with pain. "But I just... I can't. Not right now."

Fidelity stared at him, searching for something—anything—that would make this make sense. But all she found was the crushing realization that Noah was pushing her away. "So, that's it? You're just... walking away? And I get no choice? No say?"

Noah's jaw clenched. "I'm sorry."

And with that, he turned and walked off, leaving Fidelity standing there, the cold seeping into her bones as her world seemed to crumble around her.

Fidelity had no idea how she made it back to her dorm room. The moment Noah turned his back on her, everything seemed to blur—her mind, her heart, the world around her. It all felt distant, like she was stuck in a haze, barely able to process what had just happened.

He left her. Noah, the boy she thought she could trust, had walked away. And for what? Some vague explanation about needing space, about her deserving better. But it didn't make sense. Nothing made sense.

She slammed the door to her room, her hands trembling as she threw herself onto her bed. Tears welled up uncontrollably, spilling over her cheeks. She was the type to cry easily—but she had never cried like this before.

How could he do this to me?

Burying her face in her pillow, she sobbed hard, her chest heaving with every breath. Anger mixed with her sadness, bubbling just beneath the surface. She wanted to scream, to hit something, to do anything that would release the knot twisting painfully in her stomach.

She let out a gut-wrenching scream into her pillow. It eased her frustration, but only for a fleeting moment. She screamed again, and then again, but it didn't bring the relief she'd hoped for. In a surge of anger, she slammed her fist against the nightstand, instantly regretting it as pain shot through her hand.

How dare he? How dare he push her away like that after everything? She had been nothing but understanding, supportive. She'd been there for him, and this was how he repaid her? And only a couple weeks after he'd asked to be her boyfriend.

Her hands clenched the pillow tightly as fresh tears fell, her mind replaying his words over and over. "You deserve better." "I can't figure out my life." It sounded so weak, so cowardly. If he was going through something, why didn't he just tell her? Why shut her out?

"Why?" she whispered into the emptiness of the room, her voice cracking. "Why wasn't I enough?"

Fidelity sat up abruptly, wiping her tears away with the back of her hand, even though more kept coming. She hated this—hated feeling weak, feeling helpless. A small part of her wanted to chase after Noah, to demand answers, but what good would it do? He had made his decision, and it was clear he didn't want her in his life right now.

Her thoughts spiraled as she sat there, anger growing with every passing minute. How could he make that choice for her? How could he decide what she "deserved" without even asking how she felt? The arrogance of it all made her skin burn. She had been patient, tried to be understanding, and yet he acted like he was doing her a favor by breaking her heart.

She stood up and paced her room, her hands balled into fists. "Stupid, stupid boy," she muttered under her breath. "Why couldn't you just talk to me?"

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. He had no right to leave her hanging like this, as if she were just some burden. And yet, behind the anger, there was still that gnawing ache—an ache that whispered in her ear that maybe she wasn't good enough after all.

Her knees buckled, and she sank to the ground, burying her face in her hands. The frustration and hurt crashed together inside her, making it impossible to think straight. How could someone make her feel so much in such a short time? One minute she was filled with joy and love, and now... now she felt like she was falling apart.

With a trembling breath, she whispered aloud, "What did I do wrong?"

The silence in the room felt deafening, and for a moment, she wished someone—anyone—could answer her. But there was no answer. Only the dull ache in her heart and the relentless questions swirling in her mind.

She had no idea how long she sat there crying, her emotions shifting between heartache and anger. Every time she thought the tears had stopped, another wave of frustration hit her. It felt like an endless cycle, and for the first time in a long while, she didn't know how to move forward.