My heart is getting sick from the tar that's on your lips

[Deleted]

November 14, 2025

Maria wasn't a needy person. She didn't need people. At least not the way most people needed others. She didn't need the emotional support. The bonds. Because in the end, whenever she did form that kind of connection with someone it ended. Badly. They left her. Somehow, someway. And she'd be alone again.

Alone. That wasn't new. It was as natural as breathing. And she never realized how lonely she was until she felt a spark. A glimmer of something different. It was always false hope though. Because it didn't last. It never lasted. Not for her. The person left, and Maria would be left with the heartache of knowing that she was alone. Again.

So, Maria had stopped caring. Stopped trying to find people she could have a connection with. Or when she realized she might develop that sort of attachment for someone she'd leave. Like Viola. Viola had been the first in a long time to crack through her shell. And it had terrified her. Viola had seen parts of her that Maria didn't show anyone. So, she'd ran. As far as she could. She'd cut it off before Viola could leave her. As difficult and painful as that had been. How much her heart still ached for Viola's presence...

This time was different though.

It had been over a week. Since Rhys had gone totally radio silent. It was normal to go a period without talking. They were just sex after all. Nothing more. But they hadn't completely ignored each other before. If the other reached out to them. Maria had sent him a text on the 6th. Just because it was the day after his transformation. Nothing. All day. She didn't think anything of it, immediately. It wasn't until the second day that she realized he hadn't actually responded. She pushed it to the back of her mind. Until the 10th. She tried calling him then. It went straight to voicemail. Like it was off, or he'd blocked her number. 

That had frustrated her. Maybe it had just been bad timing and he couldn't answer, but why had her call immediately gone to voicemail? She tried one again, several hours later. But the same. Immediately went to voicemail. Well fine, if he wanted to ignore her, let him. 

Maria had finally cracked today. Why wasn't he responding? Maria wasn't needy, but god damnit, don't ignore her! Especially not after she'd shown him what happened to Elias. 

So, Maria had gone by his place today. She'd knock on the door. Rang the doorbell. Nothing. No answer. Not even a sound from the apartment. That was when one of his neighbors had passed, mentioning having not seen him in days. Maria doubted he socialized with his neighbors but they tended to know your comings and goings. So, she'd gone home. 

She lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling, deep in thought. What did any of that mean? For a brief moment she considered reaching out to his sisters to ask, but she immediately threw that thought out. No, hell no. But still, had he gone somewhere? But that didn't explain why he was completely refusing to answer her texts or calls. Rhys also didn't seem like the type to casually forget to respond. No, it had to be deliberate. He was ignoring her.

Her heart panged uncomfortably at the thought and she frowned. It shouldn't bother her. She was fine being ignored. She didn't need him. And yet.... Why did it... hurt?

Her phone pinged and she pulled it up to her face almost too quickly. To see who it was. She didn't realize she was desperate for it to say "Rhys" until she saw it wasn't him. Maria saw red.

CRASH.

Maria jumped, sitting up to find the source of the sound, only to see her phone, broken, on the floor by the wall. She didn't even remember throwing it. 

She rolled over onto her side, her back to the broken phone. She closed her eyes. The phone's destruction made her feel better. If he wanted to ignore her, she'd fucking ignore him. She didn't need him. She'd almost fallen to sleep when a single, infuriating thought crossed her mind.

Maria had his number memorized.

Maria threw herself off the bed, and stormed into her kitchen and yanking the fridge opened. She'd just drink until she forgot the heartache... and his number.