Help Me Unlearn

Of course there was no answer.
Though there was a part of her that hoped that he would respond to her lighthearted message.
A glance to her phone laying silent on the passenger seat of her car made her heart clench painfully.

"Foolish girl." she said aloud in the dark car while she sat in the parking lot.

Anger rose in her and without thinking she snatched up the phone, stabbed his number in and listened to the rings.
Oh he would not answer but she would leave him a peace of her mind.
That was for sure.
She did not think that he should ignore her forever. They had such a deep friendship and now that a little feeling came into the picture he ran away.
Jerk.

Her anger melted away as she listened to his voice on the other end.

"I'm sorry. I know I have been silent. I know I have been away but I just can't." he said softly.

Her voice could not come forth, only the tears streamed down her cheeks. Then his voice came again, and the pain increased.

"I see you sitting there in the car. I know where you go to think. All I know is that you want me to be with you when I can't do what you wish me to."

Her gaze snapped to look out her windshield and she saw him standing in front of his truck with the phone to his ear. Her soul shattered because she knew this man loved her. Adored her. Wanted to be with her but the way she lived her life prevented him from this.
She knew the texture of his skin. What made him laugh. How to calm him from fears and how to make his demons be quiet. He knew how to touch her pain away. To make her feel loved and beautiful. To verbally spar with her to a point they both ended up laughing.
How would she ever unlearn the lessons of him.

"Help me.." she said, voice cracking, "Help me unlearn what I've learned, unravel what shouldn't stay tied and walk away, even when it will never feel comfortable, gentle or right."

Blurry eyes watched him go very still. She heard him hang up as she watched him do it.
Her heart thumped painfully against her ribs as she thought this was it.
It was well and truly over.
But it wasn't.
He walked across the parking lot towards her car and she scrambled to get out, to meet him, to meet whatever fate would come.

He stood there staring down into her eyes and one hand lifted to brush the tears that rolled down her cheeks. His eyes were filled with anguish and love.
A tiny spark of hope flared.
What would happen now?