Disclaimer: I don't own any part of this Harry Potterverse.
Chapter 1 - A Distant Rumbling
"I can't do this anymore," she let out, the words ghosting across her lips. Her head was hung, letting her hair drape across her face. It hid the shame she felt, the guilt of giving up, and the lurch in her stomach of what was to come.
"You can't do this anymore?" he spat back at her.
Head still hung, if only to avoid confrontation for another minute, she felt that lurch give way in her stomach. This was it, this was what she had been running over in her head as she lay in bed, tracing the cracks in the ceiling. As she had sipped coffee, as she had showered the soap from her hair, and as she had knocked on the door only minutes earlier.
Be brave, be strong, she reminded herself. You are worth so much more.
She shook her head in reply and then delicately took his hand, turned it over, and unfolded his fingers. As she turned on the steps to leave, she could hear him open his mouth to say something, but no words followed her down to the sidewalk. He was left speechless. Standing in his doorway, clasping the engagement ring in his fist.
They never did make sense. It had always just felt like it should be that way. Not out love or even lust, but simply due to memories and time. We hold onto the people we feel we share the most memories with, even after recognizing that the relationship has past its own expiration date. Like trying to blow up an already deflated balloon, we prolong some relationships in our lives, despite knowing they're already over.
We fear being alone, without friends, and without love. But perhaps we are truly afraid of what we might find in ourselves when loneliness comes to call.
As she walked, the clouds that had been teeming with moisture began to find release. First in a soft drizzle, but soon in an onslaught of drops that showed no sign of stopping. She flung up her hood, meticulously tucking her hair underneath and quickly apparated away from Chudley for the last time.
A/N: Read? Review! This is my hobby, so be nice. But not too nice. More to come!