The gun is heavy in my hands.

“We weren’t supposed to happen.” I force myself to say the words, even as they disolve bitterly on my tongue.

“You don’t mean that.” Cole’s eyes meet mine, desperate for me to revoke my words. I don’t.

“You have to see we are impossible,” I manage, hating myself for the pain I’m causing him. “You have to see this never would have worked.”

“What do you mean, ‘this never would have worked.’ We’ve been making it work!” He throws his hands in the air, frustrated.

“I’m sorry, Cole, but I can’t do this anymore; we can’t do this anymore.” My words hold a finality that breaks him.

“I love you, Lyn. There, I said it. Is that what you wanted to hear? Because it’s the truth. And if any of this was real,” he gestures between us, “then you’ll consider the fact that we can make this work.”

I wanted to. Hell, I was this close to fixing this, to abandoning the will of my kingdom over my desire to protect what we had. But I couldn’t. I wouldn’t.

“I’m sorry.” The words are not enough, not nearly enough, but they’re all I have.

And with a certainty that scares me, I raise the gun and pull the trigger.