Handing him his ring back she said harshly, "And I want you to keep it for good this time, please."

She felt his pain but refused to meet his eyes, knowing she was hurting him, knowing she was crushing his hope.

And she was in pain too.

His words at the fake wedding had almost swayed her, but she'd forced herself to be strong and not give in. He hadn't changed and after all these years he wasn't going to change.

She knew this.

But it was time to face reality, and Oliver was Oliver and that was the way it was.

He wasn't going to change.

She'd accepted it.

She'd no choice but to accept it.

Their playing house together days were over, and she was ending this to save her sanity.

NOW!

Right the frack NOW!

But as she watched, he tried to put his mask on, attempted to hide his pain as his back straighten and he inhaled.

Sharply.

Very sharply.

Jesus, she missed him and she knew he was hurting.

She missed him, missed his touch.

Ached for his touch.

And sweet Jesus, he smelled so good.

Like everything she'd ever wanted.

Just like French fries.

Or cotton candy.

Or popcorn.

Yes, all of that and more.

Ducking his head for an instant, she watched as he forced his head up and looked above her, looked straight past her, clearly no longer seeing her.

Flashbacking.

Escaping.

And she knew it.

He was silently imploding.

And she knew it as he swallowed hard and exhaled deeply as her chest ached desperately for the both of them.

God this hurting him was one of the hardest things she'd ever done, even if he'd lied and kept secrets from her for months, even if he'd hurt her, but she had to stay strong, no matter if this was still one of the hardest things she'd ever done.

She needed to remember this was his fault, and she held fast to that fact.

His fault.

He'd destroyed them, destroyed their love, and they'd nothing left to build a relationship on.

She was sure of it.

However, this torturing each other had to stop. She couldn't take much more.

The pain was too much.

This relationship was over as of tonight.

She'd decided.

It had to end.

NOW!

They weren't right for each other and never would be.

She had to keep telling herself that.

And maybe, if she told herself that enough times, she'd start believing it. Maybe she could convince herself, and then maybe she could go on with her life.

Throat dry, eyes burning, she straightened her spine. Turning, she walked away from him, knowing that she was going to cry, no sob for them, just as soon as she got out of ear shot.

"I don't want to let you go."

His words jerked her to a stop, his voice raw.

And yes, he was hurting, causing her stomach to bottom out, since she knew it.

"I don't want to let you go."

His sad eyes made her look away.

Yet, unable to help herself, she turned and looked back at him. She was aching, hurting but unable to reach out for him, too hurt to reach, to hurt take that first step.

However, he stood there looking anywhere but at her with one hand in his pocket and the other hand fingering their ring. Lacing her fingers together to stop from reaching for him, she said, "But I'm already gone.

Forcing herself, she turned again, away from him.

She walked away straight backed, as she ignored, no pretended, that she didn't hear that sound, that terrible wounded animal sound he made as she walked out the door leaving him alone.

No, not never, no, not ever, would she would ever forget that awful sound.

No, his pain would forever, echo in her brain for a very long time.

But she kept her back straight as she walked away,as she forced herself to put one foot in front of the other and leave him behind.

And yes, she missed him already.

So very much.

But she had to end this to stay sane.

#####OQ#####

I realize that this a sore spot (scene) for all of us. Hence the silence on reviews and stars. And I know it was painful to watch and probably to read. I hated that scene but my writing is like that, if it wants written it gets written. Now, personally, I wanted her to take his ring back, wanted her to forgive him and that's the reason the writers didn't let us have it.

They know that there's more drama in Olicity being broke up than in Olicity being together, and there's more viewers pulled in by waiting to see if they got back together. (They are still dangling that carrot for season 5.) I get it and understand it, even if I hate it, but now does anyone want Oliver's POV on this scene? It's been nagging at me today.

And as always thanks for the read.