A/N: This has been sitting in the "Notes" of my phone for almost two weeks now...figured I should get down to writing it proper. I've never written for Shell before...so reviews are much appreciated :) It's short, but hope you enjoy anyway!
"I can't do this anymore, Will. I need you to make this choice. For us all."
She's tired of being the 'other woman'. She needs more. She deserves more.
She makes her choice. Now it's his turn.
But as she sees the unsure, hesitant look on his face, she knows she has lost him. He cups her cheek, causing her to let out a small, almost unnoticeable whimper. It hurts. She hates herself at this very moment, his lips ghosting over hers, because she responds, memorizing the feel of his lips. She shouldn't be doing this, but she knows it's the last chance she has.
Weak, she thinks.
She hates how he can make her feel this way…how he can build her up then break her down again. Hates how easily he has gotten past the walls she's spent years putting up. Hates how he's gotten under her skin, how he can see through her and how exposed she is to him.
He's made her weak.
Deep down, she wishes there'd still be some hope; but as he says the words, "I'm sorry, Shel…I love you,", she dies a little inside. She wants to say it back, but she can't. It hurts because she knows he means it. He does love her, just not enough to stay. So she starts to build up the walls. Her face grows impassive, while his grave. He knows how much pain he's causing her and he senses the barriers going up. He gives her a pleading look, then closes the door behind him.
She will never know his regret.
She's left alone in her apartment now, like before…like always. She allows herself to fall apart as she slumps against the door, broken and rejected. She chose to play in the game, put whatever she had left in the pool and took the gamble. She had chosen him, and now she has lost, because he's chosen another. Another wrong choice, she's always failing. Only this time, it's not her career on the line. This time, the wrong choice has left her heart completely broken. To have it mended only to further beat it down - the worst degree of destruction.
She confirms again that she's alone; the immense ache in her heart threatens to grow.
Shelby Corcoran starts to cry.