Seth pulled into the driveway. He killed the engine and looked up towards the apartment. Jessina's apartment. When they became a couple, she had demanded he sold his house and moved in with her.

He ignored all the red flags at first. They were so damn clear now when he was way in deep in this relationship with her. He had to get out. He needed to get out. Staying with her would kill him one way or another. Either by her hand or by his own. He couldn't take it anymore. He looked down at the text Roman had sent him minutes earlier.

"You got this."

He nodded in the darkness and blew out his breath.

"I got this," he whispered.

He left the car, walked up to the apartment, and unlocked the door. The place was dark but he could feel the darkness breathing. As if it was a real monster with eyes, watching him and waiting to swallow him whole.

This would be the last time he had to be watched by this monster. He was getting out tonight. He just needed to pick up his bag for the two weeks European tour that she knew he was set to go on.

It was weird that she wasn't home to tell him goodbye. She never missed a chance to keep an eye on him. He rushed through the darkness, grabbed the bag that was standing up against the wall in the bedroom, and rushed back towards the front door. Just a few more steps and he would be out.

"Are you leaving me, Seth?" She asked.

He froze and turned towards the voice. Of course she was playing this game tonight. She was sitting in the darkness. The monster watching him. He heard a click and the table lamp next to her favorite armchair got turned on. She was sitting in the chair. The monster ready to attack.

Her dark brown eyes were watching him. They looked black in the little light there was. Her short, dark blonde hair had been slicked back with some sort of gel. It always gave her an extra creepy look when she slicked it back. It scared him even more, and she knew it.

"Are you leaving me, Seth?" She asked again.

It was time for him to play the role one last time. The role of the boyfriend who loved her and would not want a future without her. Just one last time. He had to make it believable. If she didn't believe him, he would not be allowed to make it out of that front door. He needed to get away tonight. He was so damn close.

"What? Why would you say that?" He asked.
"Answer me!" She raised her voice.
"I'm going to Europe. You know that," he said.

He wasn't sure if she believed him or not. Her eyes kept watching him but she was silent. He hated the silence. It was another way of hers to break him. If she kept silent long enough and just stared at him, eventually he would start looking nervous. He couldn't let that happen. He placed the bag down on the floor, walked over to her, and squatted down in front of her.

"I'm not leaving you, Jessina. I have to go to Europe. It's my job. I'll get fired if I don't go. You know that," he said.

She still kept silent. He tried with a smile, and he made damn sure it was the best smile he had ever given her. He grabbed her hands and brought them to his lips for a kiss.

"I love you, bunny," he said.

How it hurt to spit out those words. He didn't love her. He hadn't loved her for a long time. He feared her. She kept watching him and he started regretting not letting any of the guys join him inside the apartment tonight. Roman, Drew, Finn and Damian were waiting in Roman's car around the corner. He hadn't even dared letting them drive down the street in case she saw the car and recognized it.

"Say it again," she said.
"I love you, bunny," he repeated.

She cracked a little smile, leaned forward, and grabbed his jaw. It took everything inside him to not start shaking. He had no idea what would come next.

"You better," she said.

She leaned in and kissed him. He gave her the kiss of a lifetime, hoping she would get so lost in the heated moment that she would be ready to let him leave without another question asked.

"I love you too," she said. "Text me when you've made it overseas."
"The second I land in the airport," he said.
"Good boy," she said. "Have fun. I'll see you in two weeks."

She let go of his jaw, and he stood up. He walked back to his bag, picked it up, and walked out of the front door without ever looking back. He got into his car, started the engine, and backed out of the driveway before she might change her mind and come running after him. He drove around the corner and stopped behind Roman's car. It all came out in that moment. He started shaking and sobbing. The car door opened, and hands pulled him out of the car. He was pulled into a strong set of arms that made sure he didn't fall to the ground.

"I got you," Roman said.
"Roman!" Seth cried.

Seth held on to Roman as tight as he could. He was scared if he let go, Jessina would come and force him back into the apartment.

"You're out, Seth. You're safe. No fucking way am I ever letting you back in there," Roman said. "Give me your phone."

Seth managed to get his phone up of his pocket and handed it to Roman. Roman kept holding on to Seth with one arm while finding Jessina's number on his phone with the other.

"There. I blocked her," Roman said.
"Thank you," Seth said. "I'm sorry. I'm such a mess. I'm so fucking embarrassed."
"Don't be," Roman said.

Roman handed Seth his phone back and then turned to look at Drew.

"Drive my car to the airport. I'm driving with Seth," Roman said.
"See you there," Drew said.

Drew, Finn and Damian got into Roman's car and drove away. Roman walked Seth around his car and opened the door to the passenger seat for him. There was no way he was letting Seth drive with how he was feeling in that moment. Seth got in, and Roman got into the driver's seat. They drove off, following Roman's car towards the airport. Seth didn't say another word until they finally parked at the airport.

"Am I really out?" Seth asked.
"You got out," Roman's patted Seth's knee. "Don't worry, little brother. I am never letting her anywhere near you again."
"Are you sure your family is okay with me staying with you when we come back?" Seth asked.
"Have you seen my house? It's big," Roman smirked. "We got room, and our hearts are always open for you. You know that."
"Thank you," Seth said.

Seth leaned over and hugged Roman. It meant so much to him that Roman had given him a way out. For so long he had kept quiet about what was really happening in his relationship, but Roman knew something was up. The bruises Seth sometimes had didn't connect with the wrestling matches he had. Roman wouldn't stop asking, and eventually Seth broke down one night and told Roman everything. Roman offered his help, and Seth finally realized he needed help.

Over several months Seth had moved his clothes out little by little and given it to Roman to take home. Roman had already set up a room in his house for Seth where all his stuff was waiting for him. Seth had bought some cheap clothes in thrift stores to make it look like his clothes was still there. He had put some towels under some of the clothes to make it look like there was more in his closet than there actually was. He knew Jessina would check at one point, and once she actually pulled the clothes out and looked at it, she would know it wasn't his clothes, but by then it would be too late. He was gone. He was finally out.

All those months of sneaking around had led to this moment where they were both in his car outside of the airport. They both jumped when someone knocked on the window. Drew leaned down and grinned at them.

"Are you guys coming?" Drew asked.
"We're coming," Roman chuckled. "Ready to go to Europe, little brother?"
"I'm so fucking ready," Seth said.