The morning after Caitlin's birthday, she woke up with a dull ache in her head and a heaviness in her heart. The previous night's events came flooding back in hazy fragments—Sam standing at the apartment door, the hurt in her eyes, that desperate kiss that was supposed to fix everything but only deepened the rift between them. Caitlin sat up in bed, wincing at the pounding in her temples, as the full weight of what had happened hit her. Sam had walked away, and Caitlin had let her go.

The apartment was eerily quiet, with only the distant sounds of traffic filtering through the windows. Her friends were still asleep, likely nursing their own hangovers, while the remnants of their birthday celebration lay scattered around the living room—empty glasses, discarded streamers, and the faint smell of stale alcohol hanging in the air. What should have been a night of joy and celebration now felt empty and hollow, tainted by the pain of what had transpired.

Caitlin swung her legs out of bed, her body sluggish and her mind even more so. She didn't want to face the day, but she knew she couldn't stay hidden away in her room forever. There was too much on her mind, too much she needed to sort through. She grabbed her phone off the nightstand, her thumb hovering over Sam's contact. The urge to call her, to try and make things right, was strong, but the words wouldn't come. She didn't know how to make this better when she wasn't sure what she was ready to give.

She couldn't bring herself to text Sam, not yet. The wound was still too fresh, the emotions too raw. Instead, she made her way down the hall to Kate's room. Caitlin found her best friend passed out on the floor, tangled in a blanket, one arm flung over her face. Caitlin nudged her gently with her foot. "Kate, get off the floor. I need to talk."

Kate stirred, letting out an unintelligible groan before rolling onto her back, blinking up at Caitlin with bleary eyes. "Why am I on the floor?"

Caitlin managed a small smile. "I guess Gabby didn't do that good of a job putting us to bed."

Kate slowly sat up, rubbing her eyes as she reached for the glass of water Gabby had left on her nightstand. She took a sip, her gaze never leaving Caitlin's face. "Are you okay? About last night? Do you remember it?"

Caitlin let out a long sigh, running a hand through her hair. "Yeah, I remember. I messed up, Kate. I think she's done. Like, really done."

Kate's expression softened, concern etched in her features as she sat up a little straighter. "You should talk to her before you assume anything."

Caitlin hesitated, the weight of Sam's ultimatum pressing on her chest. "She told me I need to figure out what I care more about—her or my reputation. She's tired of being kept a secret, and honestly, I can't blame her."

Kate leaned forward, her voice gentle but firm. "Caitlin, you've been together for what, almost three years? It's understandable that she wants more. She wants to be a part of your life, not just something you hide away."

"I know," Caitlin whispered, her voice barely audible. "But I'm scared, Kate. What if people find out? What if it ruins everything?"

Kate reached out, placing a reassuring hand over Caitlin's. "You can't live your life based on 'what ifs.' I get it, you're in the public eye now, and that's a lot of pressure. But you can't let fear dictate your life. If you love Sam, if you really want to be with her, then you have to be willing to take that risk."

Caitlin stared down at their intertwined hands, the knot in her stomach tightening. "I'm not ready," she finally admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Kate squeezed her hand gently. "That's okay, Caitlin. But maybe you need to think about how Sam is feeling. I know it sucks, but maybe y'all could use some space. Sometimes, taking a step back can help you see things more clearly."

Caitlin nodded, though her heart felt heavy at the thought. She knew Kate was right, but that didn't make it any easier. The idea of taking a break, of being without Sam, felt like a chasm opening up in front of her. But what else could she do? She couldn't keep dragging Sam through this, not when she wasn't sure she could give her what she needed.

Later that day, Caitlin found herself standing outside Sam's apartment, her heart pounding in her chest. She had spent hours rehearsing what she wanted to say, but now that she was here, every word felt wrong. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself, before finally knocking on the door.

As she waited for Sam to answer, Caitlin's mind raced with memories of their relationship—the good times, the laughter, the countless nights spent talking until dawn. They had shared so much, grown together in ways Caitlin hadn't thought possible. But now, all of that felt overshadowed by the tension and the secrecy that had begun to consume them.

It took a moment, but eventually, Sam opened the door, her expression unreadable. "Hey," Caitlin said, her voice shaky.

"Hey," Sam replied, stepping aside to let Caitlin in.

The apartment was quiet, too quiet, as they stood facing each other, the tension between them thick enough to cut with a knife. Caitlin opened her mouth to speak, but the words caught in her throat. Instead, Sam was the one to break the silence.

"I've been thinking a lot about last night," Sam began, her voice calm but laced with sadness. "About what I said."

Caitlin nodded, her heart sinking as she realized where this conversation was heading. "Sam, I—"

Sam held up a hand, stopping her. "Caitlin, I love you. I love you so much that it hurts to be away from you. And that's why I can't keep doing this. I can't keep being the person you hide away, the secret you're too afraid to share."

The raw emotion in Sam's voice cut through Caitlin like a knife. She could see the pain in Sam's eyes, the deep hurt that she had tried to bury beneath her love for Caitlin. It made Caitlin feel like the worst person in the world. She wanted to make it right, to promise that she would do better, but deep down, she knew that she couldn't.

"I'm sorry, Sam," Caitlin whispered, her voice thick with tears. "I never wanted to hurt you."

"I know," Sam said, her own eyes glistening. "But I need more than just apologies. I need to be with someone who's proud to be with me, who wants to be seen with me."

Caitlin felt the tears spill over, running down her cheeks as she choked out, "I don't know if I can do that. Not right now."

Sam's expression softened, but the pain was still there. "Then maybe we need to take a step back. Give ourselves some space to figure out what we really want."

Caitlin's breath hitched as the reality of what Sam was saying sank in. "You mean... break up?"

Sam nodded slowly, her voice breaking as she spoke. "Yeah, Cait. I think we need to."

The words hit Caitlin like a punch to the gut, leaving her breathless and reeling. She wanted to fight it, to beg Sam to stay, but deep down, she knew this was the right thing to do. They both needed time to figure out who they were and what they wanted, and they couldn't do that together.

"I don't want to lose you," Caitlin whispered, her voice trembling.

"You won't," Sam assured her, though her own tears betrayed the pain she was feeling. "I'll still be around if you need a friend. Maybe one day, when we've both figured things out, we can find our way back to each other. But right now, we need to do this."

Caitlin nodded, swallowing hard as she fought to keep herself together. "Okay," she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'll miss you, Sam."

"I'll miss you too," Sam replied, her voice thick with emotion. "But we both deserve to be happy, Caitlin. Even if it means being apart."

They stood there for a moment, the silence between them filled with unspoken words and the weight of what they were losing. Caitlin could feel her heart breaking, piece by piece, as she realized that this might truly be the end. She wanted to hold onto Sam, to never let her go, but she knew that clinging to something that was causing them both pain would only make it worse.

Finally, Caitlin took a deep breath and stepped forward, wrapping Sam in a tight embrace. They held each other for what felt like an eternity, both of them clinging to the last moments of what they had shared. Caitlin could feel Sam's tears soaking into her shirt, mixing with her own, as they both silently mourned the loss of what had once been so beautiful.

When they finally pulled away, Caitlin saw the tears streaming down Sam's face and felt her own heart breaking all over again. She reached up, wiping away Sam's tears with a shaky hand. "I'm so sorry, Sam."

"I know," Sam whispered, her voice barely holding together.

With one last, lingering look, Caitlin turned and walked toward the door. Each step felt like she was dragging herself through quicksand, her legs heavy with the weight of what she was leaving behind. She paused at the threshold, her hand on the doorknob, hesitating for just a moment. Part of her wanted to turn back, to take it all back and promise Sam that she would try harder, be better, make things right. But she knew it wouldn't be fair—not to Sam, and not to herself.

Without looking back, Caitlin opened the door and stepped out into the hallway. The cool air hit her like a splash of water, startling her into the stark reality of what had just happened. The door clicked shut behind her, and with that sound, it felt like the finality of it all settled into her bones. She was alone now, in a way she hadn't been in years.

As she made her way down the stairs and out onto the street, Caitlin felt numb. The world around her seemed muted, the vibrant colors of the city dulled by the fog of heartbreak that clouded her mind. She walked without direction, her feet carrying her through the familiar streets of her neighborhood, but nothing felt the same anymore. The city that had once felt alive with possibility now seemed cold and indifferent.

Caitlin wandered for what felt like hours, lost in her thoughts, replaying every moment of her relationship with Sam in her mind. She remembered the way Sam used to look at her, with so much love and adoration that it made Caitlin feel like she was the only person in the world who mattered. She remembered the quiet moments they shared, the laughter, the whispered secrets in the dark. But now, those memories were tinged with sadness, knowing that she had let something so precious slip through her fingers.

Eventually, Caitlin found herself standing at the river, what was once her favorite spot to go to clear her head. Now it was filled with memories of Sam, from their first date to a place they could always go to be themselves. She sat down on the grass, her body aching with exhaustion her hangover still lingering, and stared out at the river.

Caitlin couldn't stop the tears that welled up in her eyes, blurring her vision until the world around her became a haze of colors and sounds. She buried her face in her hands, finally allowing herself to break down, to let the pain and sorrow wash over her. She had tried so hard to be strong, to keep it together, but now there was nothing left to hold onto. The love of her life was gone, and it was her own fear and indecision that had driven her away.

As she cried, Caitlin felt a deep sense of loss, not just for Sam, but for the future they had once dreamed of together. The life they had talked about building, the dreams they had shared—all of it felt like it was slipping away, leaving her with nothing but emptiness. She had always been so focused on her career, on what people thought of her, that she had lost sight of what really mattered. And now, it was too late.

Eventually, the tears slowed, leaving Caitlin feeling drained and hollow. She sat there on the grass, staring blankly at the world around her, wondering what to do next. She knew she couldn't stay here forever, but the thought of going back to her apartment, to the place that held so many memories of Sam, was unbearable.

Caitlin heard the sound of footsteps approaching, soft and hesitant. For a fleeting moment, her heart leaped with hope—maybe it was Sam, coming back, ready to talk, to try again. But deep down, she knew it wasn't. She turned, wiping her tears with the back of her hand, and saw Kate and Gabby walking toward her.

They sat down beside her, Gabby wrapping an arm around Caitlin's shoulders while Kate settled next to her on the grass. There was a long moment of silence, the three of them sitting together in the fading light of the evening.

Kate finally spoke, her voice gentle and full of empathy. "Claire was with me when Sam called to tell her that y'all broke up. I'm so sorry, Cait."

Caitlin nodded, her throat too tight to speak. She appreciated that they didn't push her to talk, didn't try to force her into sharing more than she was ready to. They just sat with her, offering their presence as a small comfort in the midst of her grief.

Gabby gave Caitlin's shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "We're here for you, Cait. Whatever you need."

Caitlin took a deep, shaky breath. "I just... I don't know what to do now. I feel so lost."

Kate leaned in closer, her voice steady and reassuring. "You don't have to figure it all out right now. You don't have to do anything. Just take it one day at a time. And remember, you're not alone. We're right here with you."

Caitlin managed a small, grateful smile, even though her heart still felt heavy. "Thank you, both of you."

They sat there together for a while longer, letting the quiet of the evening surround them. It wasn't much, but it was enough for Caitlin to feel a tiny spark of hope, a glimmer of light in the darkness.

Finally, Kate stood up and offered Caitlin her hand. "Come on, let's go home."

Caitlin hesitated for a moment, then reached out and took Kate's hand, letting her friend pull her to her feet. Gabby gave her a warm, encouraging smile, and together, the three of them started walking back toward the apartment.

As they made their way through the quiet streets, Caitlin felt a sense of calm begin to settle over her. She wasn't okay, not yet, but maybe, with time and the support of her friends, she would be. And for now, that was enough.

They walked together, side by side, and as they approached their apartment building, Caitlin let out a slow breath, trying to release the lingering tension in her chest.

As they reached the door, Kate glanced at Caitlin, giving her a soft, understanding look. "It will take time to get through this, Cait. One day at a time."

Caitlin nodded, her heart still aching but just a little lighter. "Yeah," she whispered, more to herself than to them. "One day at a time."

With that, they stepped inside, Caitlin thankful to have her friends by her side.