"Thank you for being here for me, Liam," I whisper into his chest as we sit on my couch, a tub of ice cream resting on the table in front of us.

"Of course," his voice is strained and his hands tremble as he runs them down my back. "Always will be."

The tears seem to be endless and the pain all-consuming, crashing against my body like wave upon endless wave. Even the plants in the corner are withering away, begging me to water them and bring them back to life, but I can't bring myself to get up and help them when I can't even help myself. It's pitiful, I know, but my whole world has fallen apart in less than twenty-four hours.

"I just can't believe he left me. I mean, I know we probably need it. Well, we do need it. But I don't want to admit it," I admit while wiping away more of my tears that have soaked my cheeks.

"What exactly did he tell you?" Liam asks, his voice cracking towards the end, but he quickly clears his throat and brushes it away.

"He kept saying he needs to find himself and how he's tired of hurting me. And then he proceeded to say how I need this too, and how he's ruining me by staying with me," My voice wavers and cuts off as I talk, his words still echoing around in my head and causing more tears to form in my eyes.

Liam remains quiet, still gently rubbing my back. I'm oblivious to his change in demeanor, too caught up in my own little world of self-pity to realize he's oozing with guilt. That is until he opens his mouth.

"I told him to leave you."

My body tenses up and everything falls silent. He removes his hand from my back and I slowly stand up from my place on the couch, staring down at him with confusion and disbelief flashing in my eyes. He slowly stands up as well, tears forming in his eyes as he shifts back and forth nervously on each foot.

"You did what?"

Liam gulps harshly, wringing his hands in front of him nervously, "I told Harry to leave you," he repeats.

I stare at him in shock, not knowing what to do or say. I'm completely speechless and I'm not even sure what the fuck is going on in my life right now.

One second, everything between Harry and I is... okay, and then the next he's breaking up with me. Ripping my heart straight out of my chest and smashing it on the floor, closing a door in my face as a way of telling me I'll probably never see him again. And now, my best friend is standing here telling me he's the reason Harry decided to leave me. Telling me how he told him all of these heartbreaking things to get him to leave me so I can be happy again. 

"Why would you do that?" I whisper, staring at him with tears in my eyes. I'm too heartbroken to be mad or angry. I'm too sad to yell at him to get out of my house and for him to never talk to me again. Because I can't lose anyone else. My heart can't handle it.

"I'm sorry, Aurora. I- I don't know what I was thinking. I was just so tired of seeing him hurt you and I couldn't stand around and watch you break apart," he says while keeping his distance. "I was so mean to him, Rory. I was mean because I knew it would push him over the edge and he'd leave you. I told him you were planning on leaving him. I told him all of these awful things."

"You had no right to do that," My voice cracks with every word I speak. "Liam, you had no right to tell him those things."

He takes a deep breath, tears threatening to fall from his eyes, "I know. I know, Aurora. I'm so, so sorry."

"Sorry doesn't fix things," I continue to stare at him in shock and disbelief. "He's gone, Liam. He's gone because you told him to leave me. Why would you want him to leave me? And how can you sit here and comfort me after doing what you did?"

"He's not... he's not good for you-"

"But it's none of your business," I interrupt him. "You don't get to make those decisions for us. It's mine and Harry's relationship, not yours. Telling him to leave me was something you never should have done."

"I feel awful about it now-"

"You should," I cut him off once again.

He falls silent, a single tear falling down his cheek. "I did it for a reason."

"And what was your reason?"

"To stop you from getting hurt even more than you already were."

I turn my back to him and wipe away my tears, taking in a deep breath as a desperate attempt to calm myself. "Yeah, well. It didn't work."

"I just want you to be happy, Aurora. That's all I've ever wanted for you," he says softly. I feel him place his hand on my shoulder and I quickly brush it away.

"I think you should leave, Liam," I whisper, fighting back the tears that threaten to fall.

"Niall wouldn't have treated you like this."

So that's his reason. His main reason. He thinks I'd be better off with Niall. He thinks I'd be happier with Niall and I won't hurt as much if we get back together.

What is it with people thinking I'll be happier with him?

"Can you just leave? Please?" I don't turn around to face him, keeping my arms wrapped tightly around my chest as if it will mend my broken heart.

He sighs in defeat and I hear the sound of his feet nearing the door. "Just think about calling him and-"

"I don't want to talk to him!" I finally snap and spin on my heel to glare at him. "Why can't anyone understand that?! Why can't people realize I'm happy without Niall? Yes. I still fucking love him, but I always will. It took me a while to realize that, but I realize it now, and I'm happier now that I do! So can everyone just please shut the fuck up about me getting back together with him? It's not going to fucking happen!" My chest heaves up and down as I finally let my emotions get the best of me, holding them back just enough so I don't break completely down in front of Liam. 

"Is that why you answered the call when Niall called me? Why you made me listen to that song and kept grilling me about talking to him?" I question him, finally connecting all of the dots in my head. His words of telling me how we never fell out of love with each other and suggesting that I meet up with him. Telling me I shouldn't be ignoring him and how I need to talk to him now that he's in Italy.

"Yes," he replies timidly and I shake my head in frustration.

"I don't understand. You supported me about getting with him and meeting him. Why say all of those things, if you're just going to turn around and tell him to leave me?"

He takes a deep breath, his eyes flicking over my face, "I thought Harry would be good for you. Someone new to fall in love with and help you forget about Niall. But then I started seeing how drained you looked all the time, and it made me realize that Harry wasn't good for you. When you were with Niall, you never looked like that, Aurora. I gave it some time to see if things would change and if Harry would stop fucking up, but then you just kept getting worse and worse. It was like he was draining the life right out of you, and you were too oblivious to see it. Maybe on the inside, your relationship doesn't look so toxic, but on the outside it is. Not just to me, but to everyone else too."

I let his words sink in, shaking my head as if I don't want to believe what he's saying is true. Because it is... and I'm just too oblivious to see it. 

"I just-" My voice fails me and I squeeze my eyes shut. "I don't want to lose you, too. But I really don't want to see you right now."

He stares at me and takes a few steps back, his hand falling on the doorknob. "I'm sorry."

"Stop saying that. I'm not sure if I can forgive you," I breathe out, feeling the last little bit of my heart shatter.

"I know you're hurting right now, Aurora, but you'll come to see that you needed this," he says softly before opening the door and leaving me all alone. 

Well, shit. I really am alone. 

Not only am I mad at Liam for telling Harry he needs to leave me, but I'm also mad at him because I know he's right. I do need this, and so does Harry. I just wish things could be different... I wish things had happened differently. 

The silence of my apartment settles around me and I feel my chest start to tighten up, reaching for my phone to call Harry, but immediately drawing away once I remember I can't call him anymore. A pitiful sob escapes my lips and I sink to the floor, feeling lonelier than ever. I don't even have a pet to keep me company. How pathetic.

A thought passes through my mind, but I instantly toss it away, shaking my head at even the simple act of picking up my phone and calling him. I really shouldn't but I just need someone to talk to. Someone I can rant to and spill my heart out to. My one lifeline of doing that has betrayed me in a way I thought he never would. 

I pick up my phone and scroll through my contacts, clicking on his contact and pressing the call button. It rings twice before he picks up, his voice lazy and slow.

"Hello?"

"Hey," I breathe out, a bit of the weight of the world coming off of my shoulders. "I'm sorry, am I bothering you?"

"No, you're fine. What's wrong?" He asks and I hear some movement going on in the background.

I close my eyes, letting out a slow breath so I don't break down, "Everything?"

"Talk to me, Rory," his voice is laced with concern.

"It's just... I think I need to come home for a bit, Theo."

"Aren't you coming with Harry-"

"That's the thing," I cut him off quickly so it doesn't bring on a wave of unwelcome emotions. "I'm, um... I'm coming alone now, and I'm going to see if I can book a flight for tonight."

His side goes quiet and I pick at my shirt, biting my lip anxiously. "Did he hurt you?"

"No! No, nothing like that," I assure him and pull out my computer to look for flights to Florida. "I'll explain everything when I come home. I just need someone to talk to right now."

"I'm here. Talk all you need," he says and I feel a wave of relief wash over me. "Ivy is here too if you need a female's advice," Theo adds with a chuckle.

"Hi, Rora!" Ivy says brightly into the phone.

I laugh softly and wipe away my tears, "Hi, V! How's my brother treating you?"

"Like royalty," she giggles. "You're down to be one of my bridesmaids, right?"

"Of course, V!" I smile while buying a one-way ticket home. "I'd be honored!"

"Good, because I need your help picking out the dresses. My maid of honor is absolutely no help," she continues to ramble on as I pack my clothes, thankful for the brief distraction from everything crumbling down around me. 

Hearing Theo's brief input causes me to giggle softly here and there as we go over their wedding colors and guest list. My mind isn't worried about Harry or Liam at the moment, not even Niall. It's like I've entered an alternate reality where the only thing I have to worry about is picking out the perfect bridesmaid dresses and providing the flowers for their wedding. I'm still talking to them by the time I reach the airport, my spirits completely lifted and not a single tear lingering on my cheeks. 

But as soon as I hang up and sit down on the plane, I'm thrown back in time when I was sitting on a plane with Harry and telling him I love him. When we exchanged our ring and bracelet as a way of promising to spend forever together. And even when we joined the mile high club in the bathroom, still amazed we didn't wake anyone up or have a flight attendant walk in on us.

The entire flight home I refuse to sleep, too afraid he might fill my dreams and send me into another wave of depression. But even staying awake doesn't keep him out of my mind. Neither does reading when the characters in my book are in a loving and perfect relationship. I'd hate to break it to them that love is not that perfect. It's messy and full of complete shit, honestly. If all relationships were like cliche romance books, I'm sure life would be a lot simpler. Although, I would miss the drama. 

Listening to music doesn't really seem to help either when my playlists consist of either sad songs or songs about love. I might need to work on expanding that.

And it really doesn't fucking help that there's a couple sat in the two seats beside of me, whispering into each other's ears and laughing softly. It takes everything in me not to break down in a fit of tears and call Harry, begging him to change his mind so I can go running back into his arms. I want to tell him not to listen to Liam and that he doesn't know what he's talking about. That I'm happy with him and that we don't need a break. But like I've said before, we do, and I just don't want to admit it.

As soon as the plane lands, I brush past the couple in desperate need of fresh air and a familiar face. My eyes search for Theo or Oliver, hoping to catch a glimpse of Ivy's raven hair in hopes that maybe she's the one who picks me up. I meet eyes with my mom and break down right then and there, running towards her and throwing myself into her arms.

"Hi, honey," she coos in my ear and runs her hand through my hair like she always used to when I was younger.

I hug her tightly and bury my face into her neck, trying to keep my sobs as quiet as possible after having held everything in for what seemed like the longest time. She whispers reassuring words in my ear and I hear the faint sound of Oliver's voice asking me if I'm okay. A warm hand is placed on my back and I peek my head up to look at my dad who's looking at me with sympathetic eyes, smiling at me tenderly and knowing better than to ask me what happened. 

Eventually, I calm down enough to pull away from mom and throw everyone a watery smile, nodding my head once everyone asks me if I'm okay. "I'm okay. Just happy to be home," I smile softly at everyone and interlace my fingers with mom, letting them lead me out of the airport where I finally feel the soft breeze of the humid air. Everyone keeps casting me worried glances, in which I just shake my head and insist that I'm fine.

I practically beg everyone to catch me up on new information, still needing something to make me forget about everything. It works for a while until we reach home and everyone runs out of things to say, letting me know it's my turn to tell them why I'm home so early and Harry isn't with me. 

So we all sit in the living room while I tell them everything. From the day we first met, to the day he softly closed to door in my face, all the while holding back from letting my emotions completely consume me. It's rather comforting seeing everyone sitting around me as they stare at me with genuine concern flashing in their irises, intently listening to my story while throwing in comments from time to time that make me laugh. And when I finally finish, they all embrace me in a group hug... something we call 'The Honeycutt Hive'. Get it... because our last names are Honeycutt and it's like bees? 

"I'm sorry, darling," Mom sighs and wipes away my tears. "Love is hard, I know."

"Yeah, well. It seems like love doesn't love me," I laugh softly in an attempt to brush away my emotions. "I think I'll stay away from it for a bit."

"You obviously don't seem to have the best of luck with it," Oliver snorts, in which Theo and Dad both smack him in the shoulder while Ivy flicks him in the back of his head.

I laugh... a genuine laugh, feeling as if all the weight in the world has finally been lifted off of my shoulders now that I've poured my heart out. Mom starts fixing my favorite food while Dad brings out my favorite game from when I was younger. Uno seems to tear apart any good relationship you have with either your friends or family.

"You fucker!" Oliver throws his cards at Theo once he lays out a draw four.

"Payback from when you did it to me!" Theo yells back and throws his own cards back at him. 

I laugh and hide myself behind my cards, watching them get into a heated argument while Dad and I sit back and watch. "It's like watching two teenage girls fight," Dad chuckles from beside me. "Good thing we're on a team, right?"

"Ah, that's just what you think," I grin while laying out a draw four of my own. "Draw four, old man."

"What the fuck! You rat!" he gasps and throws his cards at me. "Betrayal from my own daughter."

I duck away from the flying cards with laughter peeling from my lips, tossing my own at him as a way of defense. "You asked for it by making me draw two when I was one away from having Uno!"

"Okay, calm down everyone," Mom says as she walks into the room. "The food is ready and I'd really like it if we didn't start a food fight this time, alright?"

"No promises," I mutter to Oliver as we both stand up from the floor, nudging him with my shoulder and recalling the food fight he and I started when I was home last year.

"I heard that," Mom says from behind us, causing both of us to jump and spin around with innocent smiles on our faces.

"Heard what?" Oliver asks sweetly and leans forward to peck Mom on the cheek. "We didn't do anything." She rolls her eyes with a playful smile and shakes her head as we all make our way into the dining room.

We all thank her before beginning to eat, talking about Theo and Ivy's upcoming wedding. As an older sibling, you can't help feel a little discouraged when your younger sibling gets married before you do. It kind of feels like you'll never get married and that love will never find you. Although I had been engaged, I still feel a little saddened about the fact my twenty-two-year-old brother is getting married before me. Hell, even Oliver might get married before me at this rate. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if he does.

I zone in and out of the conversation, pushing my food around on my plate and realizing my appetite wasn't really there. I'm beyond tired but still refuse to sleep in fear I'll have a nightmare that will send me even further down the hole I've fallen into. I can tell everyone is walking on eggshells around me when they talk to me, not even going into detail about Oliver's new girlfriend, even though I assure them I want to hear about it.

Once dinner is over, I step outside and walk along the beach in our backyard by myself, watching the sun set behind the horizon as the humid breeze pushes my hair away from my face. I had wanted to show Harry the sunsets in Florida, knowing he would've wanted to paint them while we sit outside and have mindless conversations about anything and everything. I wanted to show him my dad's studio and watch him cook in the kitchen with my mom. I wanted to watch the stars from the roof of my parents' house until 3 am like how I used to when I was younger. I wanted to show him my grandmother's garden. There were still so many things I wanted to do with him, but will never get the chance to now that we're done.

I'm not sure how I'm going to find it in me to live my life without him there by my side, but I know I'll find a way. I'll get back up on my feet and maybe stumble across a day where I don't think of him. Maybe there will be a day where I don't think of the beautiful man who I called Capolavoro. Part of me wishes that day will never come, but the other part of me is practically begging for that to happen so the pain in my heart can ease for at least one day.

Until then, I'll spend some time at home before returning to Italy. Just a few weeks to collect myself before I try to confront Liam. Just a few weeks to heal before I return to the place of heartbreak.

I walk back inside, mumbling a quick goodnight to everyone before disappearing upstairs to my childhood bedroom. I unpack my things and shove them into drawers, shaking my head and laughing at some of the things I packed while I wasn't paying attention.

But then I freeze and almost collapse to the floor once I spot the rainbow pattern of the cardigan I once wore when I was trying to convince a man that he's beautiful. My hands run over the soft material, picking it up and bringing it to my nose, inhaling the scent of jasmine I had learned to call home. He must've snuck it in while he was taking everything out of the drawer that once held my clothes, his own way of telling me he still loves me and will always be there waiting for me.

So instead of crying sad tears, I cry out of happiness. I cry because I know we're both set free to grow and learn so we can heal for each other. So when we see each other again, we can stay together. Forever.

A piece of paper falls out of the cardigan when I lift it up, floating smoothly to the floor and facing upwards with the word 'Flower' written in Harry's handwriting. More tears spill from my eyes as I pick it up and open it with shaky hands, holding in my sobs as I read over the words he has written for me. My hands shake harder with each word I read, smiling as tears pour from my eyes like a never-ending waterfall while I imagine his voice ringing in my ears.

"God, I'm never going to stop being in love with this man," I laugh to myself and roll my eyes, still a blubbering mess as I hold his cardigan in my arms and read the letter over and over again just so I can imagine him reading it to me.

Still imagining his voice pronouncing the words written on the page, I put on the cardigan and lay back on the bed, closing my eyes and holding the note close to my heart. Harry's voice and the sound of waves ring in my ears, singing me to sleep like a child's lullaby and slowly making me drift off to sleep.

So I sleep and dream of a world where the Flower is back in the Capolavoro's arms, home at last and both healed from their time apart so they can stay together.

Forever.