part 29 : breaking points

t had been a week since Fiona's first

therapy session, and the clarity she had

been slowly building was tested the

moment she walked into the café

She had come to meet her boy best friend-

Adam-who had been there for her through

everything, but today, something felt

different. As she made her way through the

crowded café, her eyes locked with a

familiar figure in the back corner

Dominic

He was sitting alone, staring at his phone,

but his presence felt as loud as a storm. Her

heart skipped. She had been avoiding him,

but there he was, as if fate was throwing her

into the fire.

Adam noticed Fiona freeze in the doorway

and followed her gaze. "Fiona...?"

But Fiona didn't answer. Her legs carried her

forward, almost without her permission

Dominic looked up just as she reached

his table. His face softened the moment

their eyes met, but there was no anger. Just

the heavy weight of unsaid things

'Fiona," he said softly. "I didn't expect to see

you here."

Fiona felt her breath catch in her throat. She

wanted to run. She wanted to turn around

and pretend she didn't see him. But she

stood still, rooted in place.

"I didn't expect to see you, either," she

managed to say, her voice quieter than she

intended

Adam, who had followed her quietly

stepped up beside her. He wasn't

confrontational, but there was something

protective about his stance.

Dominic's eyes flicked to Adam, then

back to Fiona. The tension between them

was palpable. "I know I hurt you, Fiona. I..

l've been thinking about it."

Fiona's heart was racing now, but she

fought the urge to run.

"Thinking about it? You don't get to just.

think about it," she said, her voice wavering,

but stronger than before. "You walked away

without giving me a chance. You pushed me

to choose, and then you vanished. You don't

just think about something like that."

Dominic's jaw tightened, and for a

moment, his eyes flashed with regret. "I'm

sorry. I didn't know how else to handle it. I

"Stop." Fiona cut him off. She couldn't take

any more half-hearted apologies, not when

she had finally started to focus on herself

"I need to take care of me right now. I can't

keep putting myself through this-through

you."

The words hit like a weight she hadn't

realized she was carrying, but they felt

freeing

Dominic didn't speak for a long

moment. He didn't try to reach for her, didn't

attempt to make it better. He just... sat in

the silence

Adam looked at Fiona, then back at

Dominic. His voice was steady but

protective. "She's right. She's not your

backup plan, man. You can't just show up

when it's convenient for you.

There was a pause before Dominic

nodded, the fight drained from his posture

"I'Il leave you both alone,' he muttered,

standing up and walking away, leaving Fiona

feeling lighter, but also conflicted

Adam turned to Fiona. "Are you okay?"

She nodded, though her insides felt twisted.

"Yeah. But I'm... I'm scared."

Adam pulled her into a hug, the one she

needed more than anything in that moment

"I know," he whispered. "But you're doing the

right thing. You've been through enough

Now it's time for you."

Fiona took a deep breath, feeling the weight

of the moment sink in. But deep down, she

knew this was the beginning of her real

journey. Not toward them, not toward

"I know, he whispered. "But you are doing the

right thing. You've been through enough.

Now it's time for you.

Fiona took a deep breath, feeling the weight

of the moment sink in. But deep down, she

knew this was the beginning of her real

journey. Not toward them, not toward

anyone else. But toward her.