She had known for years. It was rare to see him so broken, leaving her wondering what had truly transpired between them.

Ashlyn’s gaze dropped as soon as the topic of their breakup came up, the weight of it settling over her like a heavy fog. Her voice was low, barely audible, but the hurt was undeniable. “I was the one who suggested it. If he doesn’t love me, I can’t make him stay.”

Her words carried a quiet sadness, but beneath it, there was an edge of frustration—of wanting something she couldn’t have. The jealousy she tried to suppress rose within her, the thought of Khalid’s closeness with Sophia gnawing at her. Even though they had separated, Sophia still seemed to have a place in Khalid’s life that Ashlyn could never fill.

Katelyn noticed the change in Ashlyn’s demeanor, her posture slumped and eyes distant. Her voice was soft yet purposeful, cutting through the thick tension between them. “You still care about him, don’t you? You don’t want this to be over.”

It struck Katelyn as ironic that she was now playing the role of confidante. First for Alfy, now for Ashlyn; life had a strange way of steering her into these conversations.

Ashlyn let out a long, exhausted sigh, her voice barely rising above a whisper as she spoke, still not meeting Katelyn’s eyes. “It doesn’t matter what I want. If he doesn’t want to be with me, then I have to let him go. I don’t want to, but I can’t force someone to stay when they don’t feel the same way.”

Though she had no prior experience with love, this seemed like the logical path forward, even if it felt anything but right.

Katelyn tilted her head, her brow furrowing. There was something off about Ashlyn’s reasoning that didn’t sit well with her. Gently, she cupped Ashlyn’s face, lifting it until their eyes met. “You can’t just let go like this, not without giving it one last try.”

But the question lingered unanswered. How could Ashlyn find the strength to fight when her heart felt so utterly shattered?

Ashlyn’s gaze began to drop again, but Katelyn firmly cupped her chin, lifting it until their eyes met once more. “The Khalid I know isn’t the type to act carelessly. We can’t jump to conclusions without understanding the full story,” she insisted, her voice steady and reassuring.

: gαls.

Katelyn’s words were calm but firm, her belief in Khalid’s character clear. She couldn’t imagine him staying with Ashlyn if his heart were still tied to Sophia.

Tears brimmed in Ashlyn’s eyes once more, spilling over as she shook her head. “You don’t get it, Katelyn. I mean nothing to him. Even if he’s with me, it’s only because of how I look.”

Her voice broke, thick with emotion. “If it weren’t for my face, he probably wouldn’t have looked at me twice.” The words were laced with bitterness, a painful reflection of her crumbling self-worth.

Katelyn frowned, sensing the conversation was going in circles. No matter what she said, Ashlyn had a rebuttal steeped in despair. Realizing words alone wouldn’t help, she decided to take a different approach.

Without another word, Katelyn grabbed Ashlyn’s wrist and stood, her grip firm but not unkind. “Enough of this. You’re coming with me,” she said decisively.

Ashlyn attempted to pull away, but Katelyn’s grip was unyielding, and she found herself being led forward despite her resistance. “Katelyn, where are you taking me?” she protested, her voice tinged with exhaustion. “I don’t want to go anywhere. I just want to stay home, close my eyes, and forget everything.” Every ounce of her energy felt spent, and the thought of facing the world was overwhelming. But Katelyn wasn’t about to let her retreat into isolation. Tightening her hold on Ashlyn’s hand, she continued walking toward the door, her determination unwavering.

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