Spoilers: It is, in fact, not still them.

Originally posted here on May 23, 2019:

writing-prompt-s:

You are back in your hometown for the weekend, and run into your long lost love. You are both happily in a relationship now but while you sit for a coffee and laugh about the old times, he suddenly gets very serious and says “it’s still you, you know? The person I see by my side, at the end of the day”. And your heart stops.

My breath stops. I feel like I’m going to be fucking sick. 

I can feel my hands start to shake, and I press them to my legs, wiping them down the front of my jeans to hide it. 

He’s still smiling at me, a sort of gentle smile, encouraging and a little sly. Like he knows he’s knocked me for a loop, and he’s proud of himself for it. 

I feel my hands form into fists, and press them to the tops of my thighs beneath the table. I want to punch him in the fucking teeth. “I’m sorry?” I said. 

“You heard what I said.”

I swallow the angry bile rising in my throat. “David we broke up 15 years ago, for a good reason.”

“I know.” He’s still smiling that smile, but it’s turning slightly smug. “But we’ve stayed in touch, Sam. We’re on facebook…”

“I… I never post on facebook. I have facebook so I can play some dumb online games and see pictures of my sister’s kids. I barely open the app.”

“Yeah, but…”

“We haven’t talked, even online, in, like, seven years? Yeah, seven, at least. We’re not friends, we’re just friendly exes. It was nice to hang out and talk about the old days but-”

“Well, that doesn’t mean-”

“I’m not the same person I was when I left you, and I’m glad, and the idea that you’re holding onto this idea of a dumb kid that I used to be is horrifying to me.”

The smug, sly smile has finally faded from his face. He’s finally realized that I wasn’t going to fall into line with whatever fantasy of me he’s built up in his head.

“You’re- jesus, you’re married. You have a wife and kids, and you still… what? Think I’m your happy ending? We’re gonna ride off into the sunset together? I don’t know you. I don’t know your kids, I don’t know your life. I knew a guy you used to be, a long time ago, and I broke up with him for a damn good reason.”

“You misunderstood me,” he said, reaching for me.

I stood up. “No. I don’t think I did.”

“I just meant…” he took a deep breath. 

“I know what you meant. Get over whoever or whatever you think I am to you. I’m a different person than I was, and I’m glad for it.”

“Sam…”

“Don’t talk to me again, David.” 

I left, and didn’t look back.

 

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