"Love fades. Mine has."

My eyes were dead. My mind was blank. My heart was crushed. And Dimitri didn't care. I lay silently in my room, or, at least, I thought it was my room. I hadn't taken the time to look. Sometimes I hear the faint call of my friends yelling for me to open the door, but their voices sound like a mere whisper. Lissa has sent me many messages through the bond too. They're both easily ignored. Instead, I'm curled into a tight ball on the ground. Here, is the closest thing I feel to safe. If I don't see anyone, I can't get hurt anymore. Dimitri can't hurt me.

Dimitri…

With that name, I started crying again, into the pool of dry tears that have already fallen. I grabbed at my chest, right where my heart should be. But, instead, I felt nothing but a hole. When he had said those four words to me, he had ripped my out heart and had taken it with him. No matter how hard I'd tried, he would never love me anymore. His mind was made up. There was no changing it. My tears were falling harder. Faster. I couldn't help it. The one whom I was made for didn't love me. I wasn't mad anymore. I was just in anguish at the decision he had made.

I didn't really pay attention to the fact that someone had just rammed my door open. I didn't pay attention to the fact that that person was carrying me out of the room. I didn't pay attention to the fact that people were staring, or that I hadn't eaten or changed clothes or showered or anything since that night. How long had that been? A week? Two? That wouldn't be possible. The human body can't survive more then about 6 or 7 days without water. I hadn't gotten up since I first went into my room. Even if, it felt like I had been there for an eternity.

I was set down somewhere. It was a white, light room. The instant colors blinded me, for my room was a dark hideout. Something jabbed into my arm. It was a little pinch in the inside of my elbow. The pain was nothing compared to the hole in my chest. Tears will still falling down. I was choked with sobs. The worst part was I knew that people were surrounding me. There were many of them. It was pathetic for them to see me like this. But I saw them as just another monster that would only hurt me yet again.

I felt another pinch, just below my shoulder, and then I got something I hadn't had in a long time. Sleep.

And even then, I was not at peace.

When my dream came to life, I saw I was still in a ball. But I was on the top of a building. New York, I thought to myself. That's where I was.

"My little Dhamphir." A voice said to me. I didn't have to look at him. I knew it was Adrian. I heard him slowly approach me, as if not to scare me off. He lay down on the ground beside me. I didn't bother to reply back. I knew that I couldn't. I loved him too. There was no use to try to make things okay. They clearly weren't. I looked over at him. There was a deep concern in his emerald eyes. One I couldn't describe. It made me even sadder. I was hurting the ones that loved me. I started crying again.

He pulled me into a big hug. He didn't say anything else. He didn't need to. He knew what I needed. I needed someone that would let me cry in peace. And that's just what he gave me. I cried and cried. His warm hand stroked my hair. I didn't know if I could ever love someone again. But, I cared about this person lying beside me. He was what I needed right now. And he would always be here. After what only seemed like only minutes, I squeezed his shoulder. He knew it was time for me to go back.

"Thank you." I whispered in a crackly voice. He nodded once, slowly, as my vision blurred. I was coming back to reality.

Feeling a little better, I opened my eyes. Lissa was there. So were Christian and Mia. Adrian was there too. I smiled a very faint smile at him. Again, he nodded. I was so thankful that he was here for me. And he knew it.

"Hey," Lissa whispered. She was holding my hand. "How are you feeling?"

Terrible. Horrible. In pain. Like my world is gone.

"We're not going to bombard you with questions, but we want you to know whatever happened, we're here for you. You're going to be okay." I knew that was a lie. She didn't know if that was true or not. But she was trying. Again, I was hurting these wonderful people. I cried again. This time, they were silent tears. They were more controlled. But they were still there. She noticed them. "What did I say honey?" She asked me. But I couldn't speak.

"I think she needs her space right now." Adrian said. Lissa shook her head. I'm not leaving her like this. In fact, do you guys mind giving her and me some alone time? I want to figure this out." They all left, but not until after they squeezed my foot. When they left, she tuned back to me.

"Do you want to talk?" She asked. "Because I know something's not right. You locked yourself in your room for 10 days. It's no wonder you didn't die. If you need to talk, I'm here. I… I know that I sometimes I feel better if I talk to someone. That someone is usually you. I'm ready to hear what you have to say."

"It- It hurts." I whispered. It was barely audible.

"What hurts, Rose?" I grabbed my chest.

"He doesn't love me." I hiccupped. "Not even a little."

She sighed. "I'm so sorry Rose." She didn't know what to do. There was confusion in her words. Then, as if shocked, she stiffened.

"Go away." She said sharply. "She doesn't want to see you. You've caused her enough pain." And then I knew who was beside her.

"Please, Roza."