Milo’s POV

“What the fuck Sara!?” I said with a look of exasperation. This woman was going to be the end of me.

“I’m sorry!” She said, eyes toward the ground as she couldn’t look at me. “I tried convincing myself that I didn’t like her and that I couldn’t forgive her for what she did… not that it’s her fault I understand she was in pain, but I just thought, I thought I could do it Milo,” She finally looked up at me, tears in her eyes. 

My anger immediately dissipated as I closed the space between us and gave her a hug. I took a deep breath as it hit me that she was only doing her best and I shouldn’t be upset at her for that. It was all she could do after all. “It’s ok baby, I forgive you. Just…. are you… are you going to leave me?” I could feel the water forming in my own eyes now as the thought of giving her up washed over me.

“Milo… honey… it’s for the best. You don’t want to be dating me while I’m still in love with my ex… plus, you have Eli don’t you?” She said, now she was the one comforting me.

I lifted my head up from where it had been resting on her shoulder to make eye contact, “Ya I guess… but it’s not the same…” 

She flashed me a look of confusion for a second but it quickly faded before she said, “Maybe not love but… it’s for the best.”

I nodded, “I understand. Can we still be friends though?”

“Of course,” She said, smiling and kissing my forehead. “I better go though…” She let go of me, leaving me cold in lack of her embrace. I nodded once more and she left me alone to do nothing but cry.

By the time Eli returned I was asleep on the couch, eyes puffy and runny nose. I sniffled as I was awoken by his entrance. 

“Milo?” He asked, approaching me. 

I opened one eye, then the other, letting the blurriness go away as they adjusted to the light. “El?” I asked, as if it made sense to be surprised at his homecoming. 

“Are you okay?” He said, voice laced with concern. “You look like you’ve been crying…”

“Ya…. no.. I don’t know…”

He sat down on the edge of the couch and began awkwardly petting my hair. “What happened?” He whispered.

“I don’t want to talk about it…” I said simply. This seemed to upset him. Maybe it was because we had been distant recently and it seemed like I didn’t trust him but I knew I wouldn’t be able to say the words out loud. However, I still went in for a hug. It felt good to be able to feel safe in another person’s arms, to know you always had that shoulder to cry on. And I realized that Sara was right, I did have El and I always would. No matter what came between us.