It was better this way.
She had her family, her friends, all her future amenities and that school thing she had to do. She was busy. She was occupied. She was loved and safe and right where she belonged.
And he was alone.
He had loved her, still did, but not well enough.
He'd been too hesitant. Too abrasive. Too nervous and jittery and brash.
She was not coming back and it was fine. He grit his teeth against surging anger from his friend's sympathetic looks or Shippo's teasing, could smell their disbelief when he said he didn't expect her return. Tried to squash his hope that he was wrong.