Addison, in bittersweet irony, suddenly saw Benjamin for Benjamin. Not the man he had painted himself to be. But the small boy she had met all those years ago. And now, in spite of it all, the realised that that was exactly who he had been all this time. No one else. Just him and his love for her. She found this Benjamin- the real Benjamin- to be quite beautiful.
Gentle sloping nose, softly sculpted cheeks, all dusted with unruly freckles. Eyes of brown, deep and full of a love that once was. Hair a bright unmissable, blazing orange... exactly the colour she loved so much. And his smile... so sweet, so breathtaking, and so very badly forsaken.
Simple Benjamin.
Gorgeous Benjamin.
Not her Benjamin. Not anymore. Not ever again.
"I'm sorry," said Addison.
"Yeah. I'm sorry too."
Sorry for what was?
Sorry for what is?
Sorry for what will never be.
She didn't know why, but a single tear slid down Addison's cheek as she watched him turn and start to walk away.
Away from her, from the 'us' that never was, from one chapter of his life to the next.
Not once did he look back. Why would he? Now, finally, they both knew the truth. The cold, hard truth.
Benjamin Slayter Loved Addison Song.
Addison Song did not Love Benjamin Slayter.
And Benjamin Slayter would not keep Loving someone who could not Love him back.
The end.
Dear reader,
Not all love stories have happy endings. And not all happy endings end with love.