Chapter 37
I Stayed Until I Couldn't
(Keifer's POV)
The house was full.
Voices.
Laughter.
People.
Noise.
Too much noise.
I stood there.
Among them.
But not with them.
Everyone was smiling.
Happy.
Excited.
Because today…
Was her engagement.
Jay.
I didn't look at her at first.
I couldn't.
Because I knew—
If I did…
Something inside me would break again.
And I didn't have anything left to break.
"Keifer, come here."
Someone called.
I moved.
Automatically.
Like I was supposed to.
Like I belonged here.
But I didn't.
Not today.
Not anymore.
Then—
I saw her.
For a second.
Just one second.
And that was enough.
She looked beautiful.
Of course she did.
She always did.
But today…
It hurt.
Because she wasn't mine.
Not anymore.
Her eyes met mine.
Just for a moment.
And I saw it.
Pain.
The same one I felt.
The same one she was hiding.
I looked away.
Immediately.
Because I couldn't hold it.
Not here.
Not in front of everyone.
The ceremony continued.
Rings.
Smiles.
Claps.
Blessings.
Everything moved perfectly.
Like it was meant to happen.
And I stood there.
Watching.
Every second.
Every moment.
Every step…
That took her further away from me.
My hands were in my pockets.
Clenched.
Tight.
Trying to hold something.
Anything.
But there was nothing left.
My eyes burned.
I blinked.
Hard.
Again.
Again.
But it didn't help.
Because they were already red.
From everything I didn't let out.
"Congratulations!"
Voices around me.
Happy.
Cheerful.
Fake.
All of it felt fake.
Because how can something be right…
When it feels this wrong?
She smiled.
Nodded.
Accepted everything.
Like she was supposed to.
Like she had to.
And I realized—
She's doing her part.
And I…
Have to do mine.
So I stayed.
Until I couldn't.
Until every second felt heavier.
Until every smile felt sharper.
Until every sound felt louder.
Until breathing itself…
Became difficult.
Then—
I stepped back.
Quietly.
No one noticed.
Of course they didn't.
Why would they?
I don't matter here.
Not in this moment.
Not in this story.
I walked.
Past people.
Past voices.
Past everything.
Out of the hall.
Out of the house.
Out of that life.
No one stopped me.
No one called me.
No one asked.
And I didn't look back.
Because there was nothing left to look at.
I kept walking.
No destination.
No direction.
Just…
away.
Somewhere quiet.
Somewhere empty.
Somewhere…
no one knew me.
I sat down.
Finally.
And for the first time…
I didn't hold it.
My hands trembled.
My breath broke.
And everything I kept inside…
Came out.
Silently.
Alone.
Because that's how it is now.
Alone.
I lost her.
Not because I didn't love her.
But because I loved her…
And stayed silent.
And now…
She belongs to someone else.
My own brother.
And I have to live with that.
Every day.
Every moment.
Without her.
So I walked away.
Not because I'm strong.
But because…
I have nothing left to stay for.
And maybe…
Some endings don't need words.
They just need distance.
To be continued… 😭💔