ALL BECAUSE OF YOU

"It's not you, it's me."

Those words reverberated through Kelly's mind, piercing her heart like a thousand tiny needles. Her once radiant smile faded, replaced by a bewildered expression of disbelief. 

"What? Are you seriously breaking up with me? With some cheesy, generic line you probably found on the internet?" Kelly's frustration surged, her anger causing her hands to slam down on the table. The sting of tears threatened to escape her eyes, but she fought to hold them back.

"I'm sorry, Kelly," he murmured. "I just don't think that we can continue this relationship." The weight of his words hit her like a ton of bricks, shattering the hope that had been building inside her.

"And here I thought you were going to propose to me today." A mixture of sadness, anger, and disappointment welled up within her, and tears cascaded down her cheeks like a torrential downpour. With trembling hand, she reached up to wipe her tears, inadvertently smudging her carefully applied makeup. 

"Propose to you? What are you talking about? You are such a mess, Kelly." he sneered, his disgust evident in his voice as Kelly reached out her trembling hand, damp with sweat, desperately grabbing his.

"If I've done anything wrong, I'm sorry. We can figure things out, Ethan, please don't break up with me!" Her voice quivered, filled with desperation.

"Kelly! I want a woman who is disciplined, intelligent, focused, confident, independent and above all, a woman who carries herself with grace and courtesy. I'm sorry Kelly, but you seem to lack all of those qualities."

With tears streaming down her face, Kelly took a deep breath, her voice quivering but filled with newfound determination, "Ethan, I hear your words, and I understand your disappointment. But I won't give up on us just yet. I will strive to become the woman you deserve, the woman I know I can be. Please, give me a chance to show you that I can change."

As Ethan was about to respond to her, his phone rang and he snatched his hand away from Kelly's grasp.With a hurried apology, he hastily excused himself, leaving Kelly standing there, her heart in tatters, feeling utterly abandoned.

The room seemed to spin around her as she struggled to comprehend what had just transpired. It was as if the ground beneath her had crumbled away, leaving her suspended in a sea of confusion and hurt. How could he simply end everything?

She reached for her phone, her trembling fingers fumbling to dial a number. With a mix of desperation and vulnerability, she pressed the buttons, her heart pounding in her chest.

"Hey, Gabe," she managed to choke between sobs, her voice cracking with raw anguish. "I... I need you. Can you come pick me up? I'm... I'm at Joe's restaurant."

She clutched her phone tightly, hoping that Gabe would come to her rescue in this moment of vulnerability. Of course, he would come they were bestfriends since high school, right?

After what felt like an eternity, fifteen minutes ticked by before Gabe's text finally came through saying he was outside of the restaurant. A mix of relief and anticipation flooded Kelly's heart as she read his message, her emotions swirling between joy and sadness. With a surge of determination, she hastily rose from her seat, the urgency evident in her every move.

As she hurried towards the exit of the restaurant, her eyes filled with unshed tears, fate seemed to conspire against her. In her haste, her beautiful dress became entangled with a nearby table, and a resounding rip echoed through the air. It was as if the universe wanted to add insult to injury, reminding her that this day couldn't possibly get any worse.

With a deep breath, Kelly gathered her composure, the torn fabric of her dress serving as a visual reminder of the challenges she had faced. She pushed through the door, stepping outside she noticed Gabe as he ran towards her with concern etched on his face.

"Kelly? What happened?" Gabe's voice was filled with genuine worry as he reached her side. "And where is Nathan?" He asked as he tied his jacket around her waist disclosing the ripped part.

With a heavy sigh, Kelly's voice wavered with a mix of sadness and frustration. "It's Ethan," she corrected him for the umpteenth time, her voice tinged with bitterness. "He... he just broke up with me."

"Broke up? But... but you said he was going to propose to you." Gabe's eyes widened in disbelief, his brows furrowing with confusion.

A bitter laugh escaped Kelly's lips, laced with a tinge of irony. "Yeah, well, turns out things aren't always what they seem," she replied.

"I need a drink." Kelly declared, her voice filled with exhaustion and longing. Without hesitation, she made her way towards Gabe's car.

Gabe, momentarily taken aback by the sudden turn of events, quickly snapped out of his reverie. "What are you standing there for?" Kelly's voice, laced with urgency, reached him through the open window. "Let's go!"

With a determined nod, Gabe wasted no time, rushing to the driver's side and sliding into the seat.

During the short car ride to the bar, Kelly poured her heart out to Gabe, recounting every painful detail of the breakup. She had hoped for his comforting presence as her bestfriend, but instead, his laughter cut through the air like a knife.

"He broke up with me, and you think it's funny?" Kelly's voice trembled with a mix of hurt and disbelief, her eyes welling up with tears.

Gabe's laughter subsided as he realized the impact of his reaction. "No, Kelly, that's not what I meant," he quickly clarified, his tone softening. "What I find amusing is the fact that you're finally free from Nathan's toxic grip. He's always been an absolute jerk, and I'm genuinely happy for you."

"No, he is not a jerk. It's all my fault."

"Kelly please stop doing this to yourself, you'll only get hurt more." Gabe reached out, his hand hovering in the air as if to offer comfort, but Kelly seemed lost in her own thoughts. 

Ignoring his words, Kelly turned towards the bartender, her gaze fixed on the mirrored shelves filled with bottles of various spirits. With a determined tone, she requested, "Smoky mezcal, please."

The bartender's eyebrows furrowed, a mix of curiosity and worry evident in their expression as they glanced at the redness and swelling in Kelly's eyes. Sensing the bartender's concern, Gabe interjected, his voice filled with protective care, "You're definitely not going to have that, Kelly. Every time you indulge in smoky mezcal, you end up with terrible hangovers. And guess who's left taking care of you? Me. So, no."

"You don't get to tell me what to do," Kelly's eyes flashed with defiance.

Gabe sighed, his frustration mingled with a tinge of resignation. "Okay, fine. Do as you please," he conceded, raising his hands in defeat. "But don't you dare call me and ask why I didn't stop you."

Kelly scoffed, her lips pressing against the rim of the glass as she took a hefty sip of the mezcal. Gabe looked at her with a funny expression on his face.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Kelly asked, her eyebrows arching in curiosity.

"Is that a new dress?" he inquired, his voice tinged with bewilderment. Kelly's wide smile confirmed his suspicion.

"It is, and let me tell you, it cost me a fortune!" Kelly exclaimed, her words slightly slurred from the alcohol. "You won't believe how much I splurged on it..."

Before she could finish her sentence, Gabe interjected, his voice laced with concern. "Wait a minute, I thought you said you were broke. How did you manage to get the money?" His observant eyes caught the telltale signs of her flushed cheeks, a clear indication that she was drunk.

"Well, of course, I'm broke. But I may have used the money I was supposed to pay for my overdue rent." A mischievous glint sparkled in Kelly's eyes as she confessed

Gabe's jaw dropped, his exasperation evident in his voice.

"Why the heck would you do that?" he exclaimed, his frustration mingling with genuine worry.

"First of all, no need to yell," Kelly retorted, her hand defiantly planted on her hip as she pointed a warning finger in Gabe's direction. "And secondly, the dress is so darn pretty, I'll find a way to get the money for the rent, don't you worry." Gabe let out a deep sigh, frustration etched on his face as he ran his fingers through his tousled, chestnut hair. But his exasperation quickly turned to concern when he noticed Kelly's soft sobs.

"My... dress, it's ripped... why?" Kelly whimpered, her tears staining the delicate fabric. Gabe gently guided her out of the bar, into his car.

"I told you not to drink," he murmured, his voice filled with both frustration and tenderness as he carefully settled her in the back seat of his car.

He swiftly navigated the familiar streets, his grip tightening on the steering wheel as he approached Kelly's house. With a quick glance around, Gabe located the spare key hidden in the flower pot. As he opened the door, a wave of chaos greeted him, the usual mess that defined Kelly's home. The air was heavy with the scent of unwashed dishes and scattered belongings.

Sensing Kelly's discomfort, Gabe acted swiftly, guiding her towards the bathroom. With gentle hands, he gathered her brunette hair into a haphazard ponytail. As she leaned over the toilet, he patted her back soothingly, his touch a comforting presence in the midst of her distress.

He guided her to her bedroom, the soft glow of the bedside lamp casting a warm, comforting light. Just as Gabe was about to slip away, Kelly's delicate fingers clung to the hem of his shirt, a plea in her eyes.

"Gabe?"

"Hmm?"

"Will you help me become a better woman for Ethan?" she asked, her voice tinged with hope.

Gabe's expression softened, his eyes searching hers for a moment before he spoke. "If it was for your own growth, I would gladly lend a hand. But trying to change for someone who isn't worthy of your efforts... I'm sorry, Kelly, I just can't support that."

A hint of disappointment flickered across her face, but she quickly regained her composure.

"That's alright," she replied, determination lacing her words. "I'll do it on my own."

Gabe leaned in, his touch gentle as he brushed away the stray strands of hair that clung to her tear-streaked face. "You're strong, Kelly. You have the power to become the best version of yourself, with or without Ethan."

A bittersweet smile graced her lips as she nodded, accepting his words. Gabe tucked her in, carefully covering her with the soft duvet, his voice a gentle murmur in the quiet room.

"Take care, Kelly. Don't be late for work tomorrow."