The Breaking Point

Chapter 11: The Breaking Point

Erica avoided Nicole after that. She needed space.

She needed to breathe.

But Nicole didn't give up so easily.

One evening, she found Erica sitting alone in the courtyard.

"I know I hurt you," Nicole said quietly. "But I don't know how to fix this."

"You can't," Erica replied. "That's the thing, Nicole. You broke my heart, and I don't know how to put it back together with you still in my life."

Nicole swallowed hard. "So what do we do?"

Erica exhaled. "We let go."

Nicole flinched like the words physically hurt her.

"But I don't want to," she whispered.

Erica's voice was barely audible. "Neither do I."