"You shouldn't have come back here Rory."

"Tell me what happened Jess."

"No."

"Jess I'm not— "

"No! I can't. Look, I'm trying my best to protect you. Please listen to me. It is not safe for you here anymore."

I didn't quite know what to feel. I was scared. I was angry. I was confused. I was filled with an undying need to know the truth. And Jess was the only one I knew who could give me answers.

"Rory, you need to leave. Tonight."

He sat to my right and throughout our conversation, we barely looked at each other. But if he had looked at me in that moment, I would have broken. I couldn't bear the thought of leaving him again, of never seeing him again. I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes. But I needed to fight them back. Not here. Not now.

"Rory –" He reached out to touch my shoulder.

"Don't, Jess." I stood up and walked out of the pub.

I stopped outside the doors of the pub and started to cry out the tears I could no longer hold back. I had to think of my next move before I got myself caught in a catch-22. As I started to walk, the snow began to fall.

"First snow of the year." A voice behind me said.

I just stared up into the dark blue sky and said nothing.

"What are you going to do now?" Jess asked.

"I don't know."

I turned around to look at him squarely in the eyes. For a moment, nothing but silence and snow filled the space.

"You're not going to leave town tonight, are you?"

"No." I said quietly.