“Ash, it’s not even about being sorry,” I began with a sigh. I don’t understand why you think this is the way it “has” to be to begin with. The way it has to be is you and me together.

“I’m trying to protect you, Spence from me,” sighed Ashley.

“You don’t need to protect me,” I stated. A wise girl once told me there was going to be a lot of people in the world who are going to build you up and others who will tear you down. I didn’t understand what she was talking about at the time and why she stood by my side, but I do now. I know you’re not a monster. You’re doing what I do… you are tearing yourself down before the rest of the world can do it.

“It’s different, alright?” questioned Ashley.

“I want to be there with you to face everything with,” I responded. I know you’re scared because of your Mom and what she said, but we got over our fear once in order to be together. I know you can overcome your fear now, babe.

“The thing is I need to figure my life out,” explained Ashley. The last thing I would ever want to be is another Christine or a Raife.

“Alright, but let me be there for you to help figure your life out,” I said. You don’t have to do this alone. You’ve always been there for me. Let me help you for a change.

“How come you’re not scared away?” asked Ashley with curiosity. What I do best is scare people away.

“Like you, I don’t scare easily,” I answered with a smile. It’s not what you do best and I’m not like everyone else.

“I don’t want you to lose everything that matters to you because you chose me instead of your family,” sighed Ashley.

“I haven’t lost everything, because you are everything to me, Ashley Davies,” I pointed out. If you decide to let me go, is when I’ll lose everything that I’ve tried to work for this year. Even though you keep trying to push me away doesn’t mean that I’m going to give up on you. I need you in my life.

“I need you, too,” began Ashley. You mean everything to me. We’ll still be involved in each other’s lives just not as girlfriends, but as best friends. I nodded sadly. Ashley cupped my cheek kissed me sweetly on the lips. The funny thing was that it didn’t feel like a goodbye kiss, it felt like more of an ‘I’ll see you around kiss.’ I packed up most of my stuff that day and she had given me a ride back to my old home. Ashley promised that our breakup would do nothing to jeopardize our friendship. The thing was I didn’t want a friendship from her.