I’ll never hurt her again

Drake’s POV

I woke up to my head pounding and with a weight in my chest that equaled my guilt. The headache due to last night's boozing persisted, but it was insignificant compared to the ache in my heart as the memories of how I’d treated Charlotte came in flash floods. I was cold, and distant, saying things I could never again take back. It made me want to get sick.

I rubbed my eyes in an attempt to shake the fogginess of my head. My apartment was dead silent, and the quietness brought into focus just how much the absence of Charlotte weighed on me. I couldn't even recall if she'd stayed over that night. Groaning, I sat up and grabbed my phone, no missed calls, no texts from her. It was as though she'd vanished.

I swore under my breath. I wanted to apologize, to explain that it wasn't her fault, that I’d been overwhelmed by everything, the pressure, the accusations, my insecurities. But now, it seemed as though it might be too late. Stumbling out of bed quickly, I tossed some clot