The brunette took a deep breath, trying desperately to chase the doubt from her mind. This was the right thing to do… it would save Feliks's life… If she did this, she could separate herself from him just long enough for her to die. As morbid as it sounded, that's what she had to do… But she would write to him! She would write him a note explaining it all and leave it for him to get once she was gone. Tell him what happened… beg for him to forgive her, dead or not… make sure he knows he can't feel responsible for any of this, because heaven only knows he will…

She shook her head, wiping her eyes to make sure no tears had spilled over, and just breathed. In… out… in… out... All right… sh-she could do this. She had to do this.

"Feliks!" she knocked on the door, surprised at how clearly her voice rang out. She sounded so normal… "Feliks, open up! It's important!"

"Hang on!" she could hear him running down the stairs, hands undoubtedly raking through his already pristine blonde hair, trying desperately to make it look better, "Be there in a second!"

"Hurry!"

The faster he answered, the faster it would be over, and, Lord, did she want this to end.

"Lizzie!" the delighted look in his eyes killed her, "How're you~?"

She thought she was going to puke.

"Feliks… we have to talk."

The small quiver in her voice instantly dimmed the joy; he had known her for too long to expect anything good to follow.

"Feliks, your boss was right," she sounded more certain, now, voice stern and steady, "We're being stupid, and we have to stop."

"Wh-what?" his voice was already timid, eyes widening as they always did when he became upset, "Why?"

"Well, one, you are a full-grown woman. You are not a man, and it's high time you stopped pretending to be one! You don't get any respect as a woman? You don't get any by going on with this masquerade of yours, either! And would you like to know why? It's because you don't deserve it! You're immature and obnoxious, and no one is going to respect a nation that acts like a child!"

That's what Elizabeta had to do; tear him down, make him hate her. The tears welling up in his eyes told her that she was doing it right.

"B-but Lizzie—"

"No!" she cut him off, "No buts! You need to grow the hell up! It's a shock to me that you've even managed to make it this far in life! And another thing! You have absolutely no respect for the people around you! None! It's always about you! You, you, you, you, you!"

Feliks was crying openly, now, tears pouring down his cheeks as his shoulder shook with sobs. His best friend… his best friend in the whole wide would really hated him that much? After all they had been through?

"Oh, stop crying already!" she scoffed, though she felt tears of her own pricking at her own eyes, "You're such a baby! I mean, really, Feliks, you're always so dramatic about everything! You—"

"JUST SHUT UP!" the Pole screamed, finding his voice once more, "SHUT UP, SHUT UP, SHUT UP! I DON'T EVEN WANNA HEAR IT! IF YOU HATE ME SO FUCKING MUCH, THEN WE'RE DONE! AS FRIENDS, AS ALLIES, AS EVERYTHING! DONE! SO JUST GET AWAY FROM ME!"

"Praise the Lord," Elizabeta rolled her eyes, turning and walking down the driveway as fast as she could. She had to get away, to forget the image of her sobbing friend, looking so broken and betrayed… so alone.

It wasn't until she heard the door slam shut that she allowed herself to cry, legs working on their own as she broke into a run. She hated this…! She hated it!

She couldn't wait to die.