Saving Us - Chapter One

"I just don't know what I feel anymore," Casey sighed in frustration, rubbing th back of his neck as his head dropped to the floor, "I'm drained, emotionally, physically, mentally..."

Dawson held her breath, trying to process his words, analyze every part of what he was saying. 'What does he mean? Are we done? Am I not enough? Is this the end of something we...I...have worked so hard to keep?'

"So...," Dawson bit her lip, searching for the right words to say, "What now?"

Casey's eyes moved from the floor to Dawson's face, scanning over her features, her frown, her eyes beginning to tear up, the way she wouldn't focus on him for longer than ten seconds before looking away. He inhaled slowly, and as he let out a breath, answered, "I honestly don't know."

"Do you want to be with me?" The harsh words left Dawson's lips before she even had the chance to think.

"I do...at least I think I do...I don't know how to explain it..." Casey pursed his lips, racking his brain for a possible answer.

"I have to go," Dawson quickly wiped a tear falling from her eye. She brushed past Casey, grabbed her keys off the table and ran out the door, slamming it shut behind her.

She took off down the stairs, almost tripping over her own feet. Her whole body felt heavy and if she slowed down, she knew she'd collapse and her emotions would get the best of her.

'Be strong, there's still hope.' She repeated this phrase over and over again, trying to believe it.

Dawson made it to the street, the harsh, cool air striking her lungs and making her gasp for a breath. Tears dropped from her eyes, but she continued moving. She had to get away from there. From him.

She picked up her pace and began running down the sidewalk of the silent Chicago neighborhood. She didn't have a planned destination, but she continued moving in whatever direction would get her the furthest from the pain, from the possibility of losing the best part of her, from suffering a heartbreak so strong, she didn't think she was capable of bouncing back from.

'How did we get here?' Her thoughts screamed at her, 'What made it get this bad?'

(End of Chapter 1)

*Just a little something going on in my personal life that I felt might make a great story line. Let me know what you think!*