Shattered

Emily's POV

Ethan didn't give up. He kept knocking, kept calling out to me, his voice a steady presence outside my door.

"Emily, please talk to me. We need to discuss this."

I closed my eyes, feeling a wave of exhaustion wash over me. What did he want from me? Couldn't he see I was broken?

"Please, just go."

My voice was shaking and barely above a whisper.

"I don't want to speak to anyone. please leave me alone."

I could hear the desperation in my voice, and I knew Ethan could too. It was obvious that I was crying, that I was broken and shattered into a million pieces. I didn't want to talk to anyone, didn't want to face anyone, didn't want to exist. I just wanted to be left alone, to wallow in my pain and try to make sense of the betrayal that had been dealt to me.

"Please, Ethan, just leave me alone."

I repeated, my voice cracking with emotion.

The knocking stopped, and for a moment, there was silence. Then, I heard his footsteps, heavy and reluctant, as he walked a