AN :/ I know it's short, I know you want more and I know it took me time. But here is the breaking point, before the next chapters.
Enjoy it, review it... Thank you all.
As their lips hovered mere millimeters apart, as their breaths quickened in unison, and as Callie closed her eyes, waiting for that inevitable connection, it happened.
"I need to feel free…"
The words were whispered, soft yet devastating, hitting Callie like a punch to the gut. The air between them grew heavy, suffocating, as silence swallowed the room, stretching endlessly. Callie couldn't bring herself to open her eyes, terrified of what Arizona might say next. All she could do was fight the lump rising in her throat and the tears threatening to spill the moment her eyelids fluttered open.
"I get it now…" Arizona finally broke the silence, her voice trembling but gentle. "I understand what you meant back in that office, years ago. The day my whole world shattered."
Her tone was softer than Callie had expected, and it startled her enough to finally open her eyes. Arizona's blue eyes met hers, filled with a depth and vulnerability Callie had rarely seen. There was a quiet resolve there, a bittersweet clarity that made Callie's heart ache.
"I can't do this anymore, Callie," Arizona continued, her voice breaking slightly. "I can't keep waiting for you—or for me—to ruin everything around us. I just can't." She paused, struggling to find the right words. "If I'm the person I am today, it's because of you. I've loved you from the moment I saw you, and that will always be a memory I cherish. I never imagined myself having kids. I never thought it was possible. But you gave that to me, and it was… incredible."
Callie felt utterly lost, her mind racing to make sense of Arizona's words. What was she trying to say? Why was she speaking in the past tense? The weight of it all pressed down on her chest, leaving her breathless.
"I need to feel free from you, from our past," Arizona whispered, her voice barely audible. "And I need to move on with my life… without you."
"Arizona…" Callie's voice cracked, her heart shattering with every word.
"Please, Callie… I need this. It's what everyone needs—including you," Arizona said softly, her hands reaching out to gently take Callie's. Her touch was warm, familiar, yet it felt like goodbye.
In a desperate, impulsive attempt to change Arizona's mind, Callie leaned in and captured her lips in a kiss. It was raw, filled with everything she couldn't put into words—love, regret, longing, and the unbearable pain of letting go. For a moment, Arizona melted into the kiss, her body trembling as she reciprocated, pouring every ounce of emotion into it. But deep down, they both knew it was a farewell. Arizona had made her decision, and nothing would change her mind.
When the kiss ended, they rested their foreheads together, their breaths mingling, neither able to meet the other's eyes. The silence between them was deafening, heavy with unspoken words and unshed tears.
"I'm going to stay with my parents for a while after I'm officially discharged," Arizona said quietly, her voice steady but laced with sadness. "They rented a house in the country, about an hour from Seattle. I think I'll stay there until the end of my pregnancy. And about Sofia… I'd like to see her as often as possible."
Callie swallowed hard, her throat tight with emotion. "We… we can make that work," she replied, her voice trembling as she fought to keep her composure. "Wewillmake that work."
"Thank you, Callie," Arizona whispered, her eyes glistening with unshed tears as she lifted her head to meet Callie's gaze. "Thank you."
Callie was struck by the tenderness in Arizona's expression, a softness she had rarely seen. Every time she had glimpsed it, it had been fleeting, like a fragile gift. But now, it was there, raw and unfiltered, and it broke her heart all over again.
She couldn't fall apart—not here, not now. So, with every ounce of strength she had left, Callie stood up and walked toward the door. She paused, her hand on the doorknob, and without turning back, she said, "There's an envelope on the side table. Please… don't open it now. Do it when you feel free. Or just tell me, and I'll throw it away." She didn't know why she felt the need to say it, but she knew Arizona had to know.
Arizona glanced at the envelope, her name beautifully handwritten across it. "Okay," she replied softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'll read it when I'm ready."
As Callie stepped into the hallway, Arizona's voice stopped her one last time. "I know everything is a mess. And I know I've hurt you more than anyone ever should. But… I love you."
Callie's breath hitched, her heart aching with the weight of those words. She knew the only thing she could do was respect Arizona's choice, even if every fiber of her being screamed to run back, to beg her to stay. But instead, she bowed her head, sighed deeply, and left the room, closing the door behind her.
The moment she was alone, the floodgates opened. Callie stumbled to the nearest corner, her legs giving out as she slid down the wall, collapsing onto the floor. Silent, heavy tears streamed down her face, her body wracked with sobs she could no longer contain. She buried her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking as the pain she had been holding back finally consumed her.
In that moment, Callie allowed herself to feel it all—the heartbreak, the loss, the love that would never fade. And as she sat there, curled against the cold wall, she wondered if she would ever truly be free of the woman who had once been her everything.