"You are a beautiful girl, Lena. I thought I loved you, but… you no longer have a place in my heart."
"What do you mean?" Lena asked Kostos softly, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"I… I love somebody else."
Lena's eyes widened in shock. Then she lifted her hand, and slapped his cheek. Hard.
Lena sighed. Her mind had been replaying that moment every day for six months now. For six months, she'd been trying, unsuccessfully, to get over the fact that Kostos had broken up with her. She'd been trying to get over the fact that he'd left her for somebody else. And, she'd been trying to get over the fact that she would never get over it.
Because she still loved Kostos.
"How could you still love that bastard?" Bridget had asked her quizzically, when Lena had confessed her fears. "He's – he's… well, a bastard!"
"I don't know, Bee," Lena had muttered. "I don't want to love him anymore!"
Bridget had rolled her eyes. "Of course you don't! We need to do something about this, Lena! We need to help you move on! We can't have you moping around the house, daydreaming about Kostos miraculously realising that you are the love of his life, and running into your arms!" Her tone softened as she noticed Lena's wistful expression This was exactly what Lena had been hoping for. "I mean, look at the reality of the situation, Len. He isn't going to."
Lena had remained silent for a while.
"Well? Say something," Bridget had snapped impatiently. "Don't make me feel like I've hurt your feelings."
Lena smiled weakly. "You have. But anyway, it's the truth," she added quickly. "I'm hopeless, aren't I?"
"Well… yes," Bridget had agreed ruefully. "But you need to be strong, Lenny. You can get over this."
No, I can't, thought Lena to herself. I just can't.