Angel felt like his heart stopped. Juniper was standing there in front of her pickup truck. Normally it would be a sight that didn't worry him. Her dark red hair put up in a messy bun. Her cognac brown eyes behind her glasses. She hated using contacts and only relied on her glasses. The only thing worrying him was the boxes in the back of her pickup truck. Boxes with all her belongings.
Up until this moment he hadn't believed her. He came home two months ago and told her he had changed his mind about having children. When they first got together three years ago, they were on the same page. No children ever.
When he told her he had changed his mind and absolutely had to have at least one child, she had broken up with him. He hadn't believed she meant it. He was sure they could talk it through and that she eventually would give him what he wanted. That was all everyone always said. That people were supposed to change their mind as they grow older. That people were supposed to change their mind for the right person. And he had bought into those lies, believing they were truths.
She broke up with him but he refused to believe she would actually leave. Despite her sleeping on the couch for two months, he still thought she would return to the bedroom one day. Despite him not being allowed to touch, kiss or hug her, he still believed she just needed time.
Reality hit him hard in the face in this exact moment.
"You're actually leaving?" He asked.
She sighed and shook her head slightly. She had been honest from day one. He was the one who changed it all. He was the one who refused to believe her. He was the one expecting her to change everything she wanted in life for him.
"I told you I found an apartment," she said.
"I didn't think it was true," he said.
"Why not?" She asked.
"It was just something you said to try and make me come back to your side," he said.
"Why the fuck would I do that?" She asked annoyed.
He reached for her but she snapped her arm away. He was not allowed to touch her. Not ever again. He had made his choice, and she had made hers. They were done.
"Juniper, please," he said. "You just need time."
"Time for what?" She asked.
"To come around," he answered. "You'll see that it's the right thing for us. We're both turning 30 soon. We can combine our birthdays with a backyard wedding and then start trying for a baby."
"I don't want a fucking baby, Angel!" She raised her voice. "I never lied to you. Not once. I was honest from the beginning. I don't want children. You used to say the same thing too."
He crossed his arms in anger.
"What? So I'm not allowed to change my mind?" He asked.
"Of course you are," she answered. "But you're not allowed to expect me to change my mind to fit yours."
Those words cut deep. In that moment he realized how badly he had messed up. It was one thing that he wanted something else in life, but not once did he stop to think about how wrong it was to assume that she would follow his lead. Still he couldn't just let her go without one final attempt of making her stay.
"Three years," he said. "Did those three years mean nothing to you?"
"Wow, nice job with the guilt tripping," she said.
She opened the door to her pickup truck and got in. She slammed the door but the window was rolled down so she couldn't block him out.
"Did you ever love me?" He asked.
"Fuck you!" She snarled.
He regretted that question instantly. He knew she loved him but sometimes love wasn't enough.
"I'm sorry," he said. "Please, come back inside. Let's talk about it."
"Goodbye, Angel," she said.
"No, wait," he tried. "You just need time."
"You're still not getting it," she sighed. "You're never gonna fucking get it, are you? We are done!"
She turned the key and the pickup truck came to life. He reached for the door in a lame attempt of stopping her from driving away. She saw it coming and pressed down the gas before he could stop her. The pickup truck drove down the street, leaving him behind with a house fully furnitured but with no love left.