This is a oneshot from Ben's POV that I wrote. It actually currently has 2 alternate endings that I will be posting.
I was compelled to write this from an idea I got while listening to the Barenaked Ladies' song The Old Apartment (dont own that)
Just a warning: it's kind of a dark story at the end
Broke into the old apartment
This is where we used to live
Broken glass, broke and hungry
Broken hearts and broken bones
This is where we used to live
This wasn't his house anymore. So why was he here? As he walked down the dark hall to his study, his mind filled with the most recent memories he associated with this place. They were not happy ones. His heart ached when he thought of her. It had been a few months, but he still hadn't gotten over her. He still didn't know what went wrong. He probably never would.
Why did you paint the walls?
Why did you clean the floor?
Why did you plaster over the hole I punched in the door?
This is where we used to live
He noted the subtle changes that most people would ignore. Each one screamed out to him. They reminded him once again that he no longer belonged here, that this was no longer his home. He wondered why she had changed certain things. It wasn't his business anymore; maybe it had never been his business. He reached his study and the memories came rushing into his mind at a higher intensity. He could almost see her standing in the doorway the way she had that night. He could still hear her yells. He remembered every word she had screamed at him; they had only replayed in his mind every night since.
Why did you keep the mousetrap?
Why did you keep the dish rack?
These things used to be mine
I guess they still are, I want them back
On his way back down the hall he noted the things she had kept out, mostly pieces of her own historical collection, but he saw some items that were his. How had he missed getting that table back? He sighed. Did it really matter anymore? Reclaiming the table wouldn't fill the empty void that was now his heart. Nothing would ever be enough, not all the treasure in the world.
Why did they pave the lawn?
Why did they change the locks?
Why did I have to break in, I only came here to talk
This is where we used to live
Rejoining Riley in the front hall, he was almost ashamed at what they had done. The box in his hands felt heavier than it actually was. He almost laughed at how ridiculous the situation was. He never thought he'd have to break into his own house. He also never thought that the house would no longer be his, or that she would no longer be his. When he first realized that he would have to steal her access card, he convinced himself that that was the only reason why he was here. Now that he had what he wanted, he should have been getting out of there. Instead he was milling about, and both he and Riley knew why. He wanted to see her. Even though he knew it would hurt him, he just wanted one last chance. Somehow his lovesick mind convinced him that it was possible she would miraculously take him back. He should have known better.
Broke into the old apartment
Tore the phone out of the wall
Only memories, fading memories
Blending into dull tableaux
I want them back
She caught them on their way out. He got what he wanted; he got to see her. But he wasn't prepared for seeing the other person with her. She was on a date, with some guy from work. He was terribly jealous. Then the guy had the nerve to kiss her goodnight, right in front of him, as if the guy was unaware of just exactly who he was. That was when he knew it was really over. He had really lost her. Had he really been so stupid and naïve to believe he even had the slightest hope at getting her back? Everything started to blur, and he realized he was about to cry. He couldn't look at her, standing there in a black dress that strongly reminded him of the night that changed his life. He didn't hear what she was saying to him, he didn't hear Riley trying to make up an excuse for their presence. He placed the box down at his feet, along with her card. He did this deliberately and slowly, so that she would see he was admitting defeat. He quickly ascended the marble stairs. He glanced up at her for a mere moment. That was all he needed. Her eyes, her hair, her face triggered all the memories he had of them together to resurface in his mind. They weren't even together for that long, but there was so much he recalled. He hurried out the door and into the cool night air before his tears actually fell. It wasn't until he was a good 10 miles down the road that he pulled over. He bowed his head and gave in to the pain that was threatening to engulf him. The tears poured freely from his eyes and the sobs shook his body. He wasn't sure how he long he sat there for, but when his tears finally subsided his heartache remained. He would never get over her, he realized.
He glanced up from the steering wheel and looked at the road before him. Illuminated in the car's headlights was a bridge. He got out of his car and slowly made his way toward the edge. Looking out over the railing, he saw the dark, rushing water below him. He raised his hand to the railing and took a step closer. It was as if everything was happening in slow motion. His thoughts became muddled as he contemplated his next move. Could he really do it? Or was he too much of a coward? Her face flashed through his mind once again. She would never stop haunting him. He couldn't go on like this. He climbed up on to the railing and grabbed on to one of the vertical steel beams for support. He stood there looking into the water, jumping neither forward nor back. He certainly wasn't afraid of the height. He also didn't fear the water. He knew how to properly jump and how to swim. That was the problem. He would have to force himself to forget how to jump and how to swim otherwise this would fail. Failure was not an option. His toes edged forward and his grip on the beam loosened…
this is really angsty but I like it. i have a happy ending to this and then an angsty/happy ending so I will post both of those. please review and let me know what you thought