Chapter 12: Shattered Walls
Marissa stood at the window, staring out into the night. The city lights below flickered like the dying embers of something long lost. The wind rustled the leaves on the trees outside, but all she could hear was the chaotic storm raging inside her chest.
Her fingers rested against the cold glass, a reflection of the distance she now felt between herself and the world she once knew. Between herself and Mason.
The conversation they'd had earlier echoed in her mind, over and over again. His words were a constant whisper, impossible to ignore: "I still love you. I never stopped."
She pressed her palm harder against the glass, the sharp coldness grounding her thoughts, making her wonder—could love really survive the wreckage they had left behind? Could they both heal from the devastation?
When Mason had said those words, a part of her had wanted to crumble into his arms, let go of everything, and allow herself to be swept up by the intensity of it all. But another part..the part that had learned to shield herself had kept her hands clenched at her sides, her heart locked away, protected behind years of emotional armor.
Because love wasn't enough to undo the past.
Her eyes flickered to the clock on the wall. It was past midnight. She hadn't heard from Mason since their last conversation. But she couldn't stop thinking about him. He was right about one thing they were both broken, in different ways.
Suddenly, the soft buzzing of her phone interrupted her thoughts. The message notification read: Mason Blake.
A lump formed in her throat. She didn't even have to look at the message yet to feel the weight of it. Her thumb hovered over the screen, a moment of hesitation before she opened it.
I know you're hurting, but I can't let you walk away again. I won't. Please. Meet me tomorrow. I need to explain everything. You deserve the truth.
Marissa let out a shaky breath, reading the words over and over, each one sinking deeper into her chest. You deserve the truth.
Her eyes stung as she stared at the message. She had always craved the truth. She wanted to know everything. She needed to understand why he had done what he had done. But the question lingered: Was she ready for the answer? Or was the truth just another thing that would tear her apart?
Her mind raced through a thousand possibilities, but one question stood above them all—Why now?
Why was Mason finally coming to her with everything after all this time? Was it because he had finally realized that she was slipping away, or was it because he had truly come to terms with his actions?
She sank into the armchair by the window, the world outside blurring into a haze. Could she trust him again? Could she allow herself to believe that this time, it would be different?
The question gnawed at her, tearing at the walls she had so carefully built around herself.
A knock at the door startled her, and for a brief moment, her heart skipped a beat. She wasn't expecting anyone, especially not tonight.
"Marissa?" A voice filtered through the door. Her body stiffened.
It was Mason. She could tell from the way his voice trembled, even through the wood.
She didn't move. She didn't know what to do. The rush of emotions in her chest made it feel like the world was closing in on her.
"Marissa, please." His voice was softer now, quieter, almost pleading. "I know you're in there. Just… just let me explain."
She swallowed hard, looking around the room like it would offer her some kind of answer.
The old part of her—the part that had once let Mason in without question was aching for him, was desperate for closure, for reconciliation. But she had learned the hard way that when you let someone in, you risk letting them break you again. And that was a risk she couldn't take.
Her phone buzzed again. Another message from him.
I know I've hurt you more than anyone should ever be hurt. But if you ever loved me, if you ever believed in what we had, please, just let me in. I'm begging you.
She felt the walls of her resolve start to crack.
But she couldn't. Not yet. Not without knowing everything. Not without knowing if she could survive the weight of his truth.
She took a deep breath and stood up, walking slowly to the door. The handle was cold under her fingertips, and she hesitated before finally opening it.
There he stood. His hair was wet from the rain, his jacket clinging to his body, but his eyes those damn eyes held a vulnerability she hadn't seen in years.
"Marissa," he whispered, his voice breaking. "Please. I need to talk to you. I know I've ruined everything, but I still love you. And I can't let you go without you knowing the truth."
She stood frozen, the hurt in her chest rising like an unstoppable tide. "I don't know if I can handle it, Mason," she said, the words slipping out before she could stop them. "I don't know if I can trust you again."
His hand reached out slowly, as though unsure if she would pull away. But she didn't. She let him touch her, let him gently take her hand in his. The warmth of his touch made her heart ache. "You don't have to trust me right now," he said softly. "But you need to know that I never stopped loving you. Not for one second. And I'll do whatever it takes to make things right. I'll be here when you're ready to hear me out."
Marissa's heart beat faster in her chest. It was a risk one that she wasn't sure she was willing to take but as she looked into his eyes, she realized that no matter how hard she tried to run, the truth had already caught up with her.
She didn't know what the future held. She didn't know if she could ever forgive him. But for the first time in a long time, she felt the stirrings of something more than just anger and pain. Something that whispered of possibility, of healing, of hope.
And maybe, just maybe, that was enough.