A cold, drizzling rain began to fall from the sky.

There was a 24-hour convenience store near my apartment. Adrian and I used to come here after work to buy microwave dinners. I would always link my arm with his, thinking it was a preview of our future life together.

Standing alone in front of the refrigerated section, I grabbed a box of instant mac and cheese and two cans of beer. As I passed the frozen food aisle, I saw an anchovy pizza.

Adrian hated the smell of anchovies, but I was a huge fan.

Because I loved him, I changed my own preferences, even coming up with a lame excuse: "I'm allergic to anchovies."

So many "allergies" are just compromises made for the person you love.

Without hesitation, I grabbed two boxes of frozen anchovy pizza. This was to fill the void of the last seven years.

When I got home, the black trash bags with Adrian's stuff were still by the door. He hadn't been back.

Just as I took out my keys, I heard urgent footsteps behind me. The next second, a familiar scent and warmth enveloped me.

"Harper, I was wrong. Please, forgive me, okay?"

Adrian's voice was desperate, pleading, on the verge of tears.

He was begging me not to leave him.

"Why did you block me? Do you have any idea how worried I was? I was going crazy!"

His large hands gripped my shoulders, pressing down hard.

I struggled, trying to break free from his embrace. "Adrian, let go, you're hurting me! You bastard!"

The shopping bag slipped from my hand, and the beer cans rolled across the floor. Adrian, like a madman, crushed his lips against mine.

His kisses used to be romantic, full of passion. Now, every touch just made me feel sick.

"Adrian, you're insane! Get off me!"

I screamed, tears in my eyes, my collar pulled askew, a dull ache in my neck.

"Let her go!"

A voice, both strange and familiar, rang out, strong and clear.

Before I could react, a powerful force brutally ripped Adrian off me. The next second, with a loud thud, Adrian was hit with a heavy punch to the face, slamming him against the wall before he crumpled onto the carpet.

Under the dim motion-sensor light, a tall figure stood protectively in front of me.

It was Noah!

He took off his windbreaker and wrapped it tightly around me, motioning for me to go inside while he handled the situation.

In the flickering light, I instinctively looked up.

His brow was furrowed, his expression stern, but his eyes were clear and full of concern.

Standing in front of me like a mountain, he told me with unshakable certainty, "Don't be afraid. I'm here."

For some reason, a powerful force surged through me, like a parched field finally receiving rain.

This was a sense of security I had never felt in seven years with Adrian.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself.

It was time to make a clean break with Adrian.

"You should go. I don't want to see you again."

Noah tactfully picked up the shopping bag from the floor and went inside my apartment.

"Adrian, I don't love you anymore. Yesterday, when I saw you put that wedding dress on Bella, my heart died."

"You destroyed my last shred of hope for love, made me afraid to ever love again."

Adrian slowly pushed himself up from the floor, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. He leaned weakly against the wall, his face pale as he looked at me, completely drained.

"We're both adults. We need to take responsibility for our actions. Don't come looking for me again. Let's just leave it at that…"

At that moment, my heart was surprisingly calm, like a still pond without a single ripple.

There were no tears in my eyes, no pain in my heart.

Maybe this is what it feels like to fall out of love.

Adrian stumbled closer, grabbing my hands and begging, "Harper, I was wrong. I was a fool yesterday. I… I like you."

"Listen to me, about Bella… I don't like her anymore. The person I like is you, Harper!"

"If I didn't like you, why would I have proposed? Harper…"

Adrian choked on his words, his brow furrowed, a tear tracing a clear path down his cheek.

I had waited seven years to hear him say he liked me.

Before, I would have thrown myself into his arms, giddy with joy, wanting to tell the whole world I was the happiest girl alive.

But it was too late.

A broken heart, even when it heals, is still covered in scars.

"Adrian, just go. Like that cheap music box from Coney Island, we can never go back."

I quickly pulled my hands away without a second of hesitation and turned to go inside.

The last bit of affection I had for Adrian vanished with the heavy slam of the door.