The Weight of a Message

Victoria sat on the edge of her bed, her phone gripped tightly in her hands. The message from Grayson stared back at her, the words sinking into her mind like heavy stones.

I can't do this anymore, Tori. I tried, I really did. But I can't keep watching you with him. I thought I could move on, but I was wrong. I won't see you again.

Her fingers hovered over the screen, but she couldn't bring herself to reply.

Her heart pounded. Was this really happening? Was he really walking away from their friendship?

A lump formed in her throat as her thoughts spiraled. Maybe he was right. Maybe she had been selfish, pretending things could stay the same. Maybe breaking up with Damon was the right thing to do.

The thought made her chest tighten.

She needed to talk to someone.

Without wasting another second, she grabbed her phone and hurried down the hallway. She saw Aria on the campus and ran towards her.

Aria, sitting cross-legged on a bench, looked up from her laptop, eyebrows raised. "Tori? What's wrong?"

Victoria wordlessly handed over her phone.

Aria's expression darkened as she read the message. "Are you kidding me?" she snapped, shaking her head.

"I don't know what to do," Victoria admitted, her voice small. "I mean, maybe—maybe breaking up with Damon would be the right thing…"

Aria's head snapped up. "You can't be serious."

Victoria bit her lip. "But if Grayson's hurting, and if it's because of me, then maybe—"

"No." Aria's voice was firm, her eyes flashing with anger. "This is not on you, Tori. This is on him."

Victoria's hands trembled as she sank onto the bed beside Aria. "But what if he really can't handle it?"

Aria exhaled sharply. "Then he should talk to you, not guilt-trip you into questioning your relationship. He's your friend, Tori. He should want you to be happy."

Victoria buried her face in her hands. "I don't want to lose him, Aria."

Aria's voice softened. "Then tell him that. But don't you dare break up with Damon just because Grayson can't handle his emotions. That's his problem, not yours."

Victoria let out a shaky breath. She wished it were that simple.

For the rest of the night, Victoria couldn't shake the weight of Grayson's words. She lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, her mind restless.

Damon's name popped up on her phone, a simple Goodnight, Sunshine lighting up her screen.

Her stomach twisted. She hesitated before typing back.

Goodnight, Icarus.

She turned off her phone, but sleep didn't come easily.

The next morning, her exhaustion was evident. She barely touched her breakfast, her mind preoccupied.

Even when she sat with Damon, even when he wrapped an arm around her shoulder, she felt detached. The guilt lingered like a shadow.

Damon noticed. "Sunshine?"

She looked up, forcing a smile. "Yeah?"

His brown eyes studied her. "You okay?"

She hesitated, then nodded. "Just tired."

He didn't look convinced but didn't push.

Later that evening, Victoria found herself in front of Grayson's dorm. She wasn't sure what she planned to say, but she needed to say something.

She knocked.

A few seconds later, the door opened, and Grayson stood there, looking surprised—and a little guilty.

"Tori," he said quietly.

"Can we talk?" she asked, her voice softer than she intended.

He stepped aside, letting her in. The room was dimly lit, and she noticed the unmade bed, the scattered books, the half-empty water bottle on his desk.

Grayson sat on the edge of his bed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I wasn't expecting you."

Victoria crossed her arms. "I wasn't expecting your message."

He let out a heavy sigh. "I meant it, Tori. I can't do this anymore."

Her heart clenched. "So you're just going to disappear?"

Grayson looked away. "It's not that simple."

"Yes, it is," she countered. "You're my best friend. I need you in my life, Grayson."

His jaw tightened. "And I need you to not be with Damon."

The words stung.

She took a step back. "That's not fair."

Grayson let out a bitter laugh. "None of this is fair, Tori. I thought I could get over it. I tried. But every time I see you with him, it just—it hurts."

Victoria's throat burned. "I never wanted to hurt you."

"I know," he said, his voice raw. "But that doesn't change the fact that you did."

Silence filled the room.

Then, he exhaled. "I stopped drinking because of you. Because I thought, maybe, if I was better, you'd—" He stopped himself, shaking his head. "But it doesn't matter. You love him."

Victoria swallowed hard. Did she?

She cared about Damon. She liked being around him. But love? Was she there yet?

Grayson ran a hand through his hair. "I don't know how to be around you anymore, Tori."

Her chest ached. "Then what do we do?"

He looked at her, his brown eyes filled with a sadness she wasn't used to seeing. "I don't know."

Victoria's heart felt heavy as she realized there was no easy fix.

After leaving Grayson's dorm, Victoria returned to her own room, her heart still heavy. As soon as she stepped inside, Aria looked up from her laptop, immediately noticing something was wrong.

Aria took one look at her face and sighed. "That bad?"

Victoria nodded, sinking onto the bed. "I don't know what to do."

Aria sat beside her. "Did you tell him breaking up with Damon isn't an option?"

Victoria bit her lip. "Not exactly."

Aria groaned. "Tori."

"I just— I feel guilty," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Aria shook her head. "No. He should feel guilty for making you feel this way."

Victoria glanced down. "I just don't want to lose him."

Aria's voice softened. "Then don't. But don't sacrifice your happiness for his."

Victoria let out a slow breath. Maybe Aria was right.

Maybe it was time to stop feeling guilty for loving the life she had chosen.

Or maybe not.