Nothing changed.
Days passed.
People moved.
Time continued.
But for me…
Everything stayed stuck in that one moment—
When he looked at me…
And felt nothing.
The hospital discharged him after a few days.
Physically, he was fine.
Strong.
Normal.
Perfect.
Mentally…
He had moved on.
Without even knowing it.
And I…
Was left behind.
He didn't come home with me.
That hurt more than I expected.
"I'll stay at my old place for a while," he had said.
"I need space."
Space.
From me.
Victoria stood beside him when he said that.
Silent.
But satisfied.
I didn't argue.
Didn't fight.
Didn't beg.
Because I saw it in his eyes—
He had already made his decision.
The house felt empty.
Cold.
Lifeless.
Every corner reminded me of him.
The couch where we used to sit together.
The kitchen where we argued over small things.
The balcony where he once held me and said—
"I won't let anything happen to us."
I laughed bitterly.
He already did.
Days turned into a routine.
If it could even be called that.
Wake up.
Sit silently.
Try not to think.
Fail.
Sometimes I called him.
He answered.
But only for a few seconds.
"Yes?"
"Is everything okay?"
"Yes."
Short answers.
No emotion.
No connection.
Like I was talking to a stranger.
One evening…
I decided to go see him.
I don't know why.
Maybe hope.
Maybe habit.
Maybe love.
Or maybe…
I just wasn't ready to give up.
His apartment door was slightly open.
I stepped in slowly.
Voices.
Laughter.
Familiar.
But not mine.
I walked inside.
And then—
Stopped.
Victoria was there.
Standing in the living room.
Comfortable.
Relaxed.
Like she belonged there.
And James…
Was standing beside her.
Smiling.
Smiling the way he used to smile with me.
Something inside me twisted painfully.
"You're here?" he said, noticing me.
His tone wasn't happy.
Wasn't surprised.
Just… neutral.
"I came to see you," I said quietly.
Victoria crossed her arms.
Watching me.
"You should have called first," she said.
I ignored her.
"I wanted to talk," I said, looking at him.
He sighed slightly.
"About what?"
About what?
I almost laughed.
"About us," I said.
Silence.
"There is no 'us'," he replied.
The same words.
Again.
But this time…
They felt heavier.
Final.
"There was," I said.
"There still is."
He shook his head.
"Not for me."
That hurt.
More than before.
Because now…
It wasn't confusion.
It was choice.
Victoria stepped closer to him.
"James, you don't need to deal with this," she said softly.
Deal with this.
That's what I had become.
A problem.
A burden.
"I'm not 'this'," I said sharply.
"I'm his wife."
Her lips curved slightly.
"According to you."
Before I could reply—
He spoke.
"Enough."
His voice was firm.
Cold.
"We're not doing this again."
Again.
Like my pain was repetition.
Like my love was annoyance.
"I just want you to try," I said, my voice breaking.
"Try to remember… try to feel something…"
He looked at me.
For a moment.
And then—
Nothing.
"I can't fake feelings," he said.
Fake.
So everything we had…
Was nothing to him now.
Tears rolled down my cheeks.
But I didn't wipe them.
Because it didn't matter.
Nothing mattered anymore.
"Then tell me one thing," I whispered.
He didn't respond.
"If I disappear… will it make any difference to you?"
Silence filled the room.
A long one.
Painful.
And then—
He answered.
"I don't know."
That was it.
Not even a "no."
Just…
Nothing.
Something inside me finally broke.
Completely.
Not loudly.
Not dramatically.
Just quietly.
Like a glass shattering in slow motion.
I nodded slowly.
"Okay."
That one word carried everything.
Pain.
Acceptance.
End.
I turned around.
Walked towards the door.
This time…
I didn't stop.
Didn't wait.
Because I knew—
He wouldn't.
Behind me…
There was no voice calling my name.
No footsteps following me.
Nothing.
And that silence…
Said everything.
When I stepped outside…
The air felt heavier.
Harder to breathe.
But also…
Clearer.
Because for the first time…
I understood something.
Love alone…
Is not enough.
Not when the other person doesn't even remember it.
Not when they don't even try.
I looked up at the sky.
Blank.
Endless.
Just like my future now.
And slowly…
For the first time since the accident—
I let myself accept the truth.
He was gone.
Not physically.
But completely.
And maybe…
It was time I stopped holding on to someone—
Who had already let me go.