[ WP ] Just because you love them , does n't mean they have to love you back .

She spilled her secrets quietly. Alone in the break room, her fork scratching lightly at the uneven surface of the lunch box, the pasta being cleared in a folding fan pattern by the movements of her hand. `` Sometimes I wish I'd never met him,'' she sighed, then wound her knit cardigan tighter around her. 
 
 `` Do n't say that,'' he said, straightening up in his chair. `` This is just a slump. He'll come back, and it'll go back to normal.'' 
 
 `` You do n't mean that.'' 
 
 `` When have I ever lied to you?'' 
 
 ``...'' 
 
 One time they'd been in Cornwall, just the two of them. Owen had canceled at the last minute. She picked shells and soft round stones, rinsing them off in the ocean and gently placing them in his hands. `` I like this one the most,'' she said, pointing at the pinkish crescent in his palm. `` I'm gon na take it home with me.'' 
 
 He had opened his mouth, or it had fallen ajar as a result of her hands on his. Perhaps it was a result of the Atlantic sea and its minuscule droplets in the air like fine mist. Maybe his breathing issues stemmed from the wetness that covered her clothes, lounging on her eyelashes and brows, she was weather-beaten but so goddamn beautiful, and maybe she was n't involved at all, his troubles could have been a result of sleep deprivation and stress, of the water heater still being broken and a faltering Jeep. They'd remained on the beach for an hour, searching the pebbles and nooks. 
 
 Later, wandering through the gaping alleys, were two people and a seashell. The streetlights went on with yellow pints to illuminate cheap stores. Perched at the busiest corner was a stone wall hotel. Two of its rooms belonged to them. 
 
 `` Jessica,'' he said, fumbling for scripted words, `` I've been thinking-'' 
 
 She glanced at the entrance door, at heavy handles and munition. She remained on the sidewalk, with him. 
 
 `` You mean,'' he went on, his cheeks burning bright red, `` You mean a lot to me. More than you should-,'' 
 
 She blinked once, twice, a crease appearing on her forehead, her eyebrows in a slump. `` I...'' 
 
 He looked at her shyly, suddenly coy, suddenly useless, senseless, `` I just needed to tell you.'' 
 
 Squeezing the shell tightly in her hand, she smiled, barely scraping together the necessary components, `` I'm glad you told me.'' 
 
 As they went inside the door shut behind them, tiredly clacking, keeping the cold outside again. 
 
 Just because you love them, does n't mean they have to love you back.
