Craig led Manny down the hall to a small area where there were vending
machines and water fountains. It was dimly lit and Manny could barely make
out Craig's face. Still she had a feeling about what was coming without
having to see his expression.
"Manny, I.I can't do this anymore."
"Do what?" she asked breathlessly, trying to stay calm.
"Any of this stuff." He looked away. "Everyone I care about I lose."
"Craig."
Craig shook his head. "No, it's true. First my mom.then my dad and for a little while you and Ash.and now Ange." When he said her name, his voice grew thick with unshed tears. "It's not worth it anymore."
"What?" Manny whispered harsly. "Of course it is. You can't go through life without caring for people."
"Yes I can," Craig told her firmly. "I have to Manny or else I might." He stopped suddenly.
"Might what?"
"Nothing. It-it's not important." "I don't understand," Manny said. "This is the time where you need people the most. You can't push everyone away like this." Craig took Manny's hands in his and took a step towards her. She could see his face more clearly now. It was exhausted and tearstained.and empty. The hollowness in his eyes scared her. "I don't want to hurt you Manny. But I can't stay with you anymore." He let her hands go. "I.I have nothing left to give you."
Manny opened her mouth to argue but realized he spoke the truth. The Craig that she knew and loved was gone and the empty husk that remained wouldn't be the same. She had to accept it as much as she hated it.
Manny stretched up on her tiptoes to brush his cheek with one last kiss. Then she turned and walked away slowly. But she allowed no tears to fall.
Those she would save for later.
+++
This may be the end of the fanfic but not the end of the story. I am planning a sequel to this entitled, Family. Keep an eye out for it soon. Hopefully I will have the first chapter up within a week.
"Manny, I.I can't do this anymore."
"Do what?" she asked breathlessly, trying to stay calm.
"Any of this stuff." He looked away. "Everyone I care about I lose."
"Craig."
Craig shook his head. "No, it's true. First my mom.then my dad and for a little while you and Ash.and now Ange." When he said her name, his voice grew thick with unshed tears. "It's not worth it anymore."
"What?" Manny whispered harsly. "Of course it is. You can't go through life without caring for people."
"Yes I can," Craig told her firmly. "I have to Manny or else I might." He stopped suddenly.
"Might what?"
"Nothing. It-it's not important." "I don't understand," Manny said. "This is the time where you need people the most. You can't push everyone away like this." Craig took Manny's hands in his and took a step towards her. She could see his face more clearly now. It was exhausted and tearstained.and empty. The hollowness in his eyes scared her. "I don't want to hurt you Manny. But I can't stay with you anymore." He let her hands go. "I.I have nothing left to give you."
Manny opened her mouth to argue but realized he spoke the truth. The Craig that she knew and loved was gone and the empty husk that remained wouldn't be the same. She had to accept it as much as she hated it.
Manny stretched up on her tiptoes to brush his cheek with one last kiss. Then she turned and walked away slowly. But she allowed no tears to fall.
Those she would save for later.
+++
This may be the end of the fanfic but not the end of the story. I am planning a sequel to this entitled, Family. Keep an eye out for it soon. Hopefully I will have the first chapter up within a week.
