Page 14 of No One's Like You
"What's wrong, Ruby?" Amelia worries and stands up. "Are you feeling okay?"
Ruby swallows hard and all she does is shake her head no. She gathers all the courage she can and opens her mouth.
"We need to talk, Amelia."
Amelia's eyes suddenly turn dull, and a sad half-smile forms on her face.
"Sure," the girl answers. "Let's sit down."
Ruby walks feeling like her body isn't hers, that everything in the room isn't real, as if she were in a macabre nightmare.
Amelia waits patiently for the woman who is still her girlfriend to speak. Ruby takes a minute that seems like an hour and moves her lips several times without her voice coming out. She clears her throat and remembers the damn breathing guru, so she inhales as much as she can and releases it slowly.
"I think..." Ruby presses the bridge of her nose hard. "I think it's not right for us to stay together."
Amelia just nods, not intending to interrupt anything Ruby needs to tell her. When she's done, it will be her turn.
"I love you, Amelia, and I've been very happy by your side, don't doubt that," Ruby dares to take her hands, "but I feel like what we have isn't going to progress. At some point, we've stayed in the same place, stagnant, and I know you want more. I know you want to get married, I knowyou've even thought about becoming a mother," Ruby looks at her with teary eyes, "and I also know you're sure I'm not the person you want to fulfill all that with. You've given me incredible years, and I can never thank you enough for every moment of happiness I've enjoyed by your side."
Ruby breaks down; that anguish she had in her chest and throat gives way to voracious tears that soak her face. Amelia moves closer and hugs her. Both stay very close, comforting each other for a few minutes until Ruby finds her voice again.
"I don't want us to stay in a relationship that we both know has an expiration date. We don't deserve that, Amelia. You don't deserve it," Ruby emphasizes because the girl in front of her has the right to be with someone who would give their life for her. "I don't understand why we haven't had this conversation before."
"Because we didn't want to go through this moment," Amelia finally speaks. "And because we get along very well. We hardly argue, we still have long talks, we do well in bed, and we care deeply for each other. Breaking something like this is very difficult; many people would give anything to have a relationship like ours."
Ruby cries again and tries to wipe away the tears with trembling fingers. Amelia remains more composed, though she suffers no less.
"I know there will be a time of great sadness now, but we'll get through it," Amelia hugs her again and leaves a kiss on her forehead before standing up. "I'm going to gather my things."
Ruby also stands and takes one of her hands to prevent her from moving.
"There's no rush, Amelia, you can stay here as long as you need."
"You know that will make it worse," the girl answers, shaking her head. "We love each other, Ruby, maybe not as we should, but we do love each other, and if I extend the time by staying here, it will be as if we hadn't really broken up."
Ruby knows she's right, but her heart is so broken that she doesn't know what to do. She releases her hand, and Amelia enters the bedroom. She stays there for about twenty minutes, and all that can be heard is the bustling of closets and drawers. She comes out with a small suitcase and a backpack, dressed in dark jeans and an Early Bayou sweatshirt.
"I'm taking just what I need today; I'll call you as soon as I can to come back for the rest, is that okay?"
Ruby hugs her again, and the sob makes Amelia cry too as she squeezes her tightly.
"I hope you make it this time, Ruby. That this time you have the opportunity you've always wanted with Ellie," Ruby tenses when she hears this, and Amelia hugs her tighter. "I know you loved me, just as I always knew that someday I would lose you to her. Be happy, love."
And with those words, Amelia lets her go, takes the suitcase, and walks out the door without saying anything else.
The girl went crazy when the beautiful Ruby Hebert took her to dinner for the first time, when she sank her teeth into her lower lip after giving her the wettest kiss she had ever experienced, and her mind vibrated when, weeks later, she asked her to start a relationship. All that went down the drain of a dirty bathroom when she met her best friend. Ellie Trahan arrived one night at the bar where the three of them had arranged to meet, with that calm but captivating air that swirled around her. Her gaze was warm and serene until her eyes met Ruby's. Her dilated pupils and that soft blush on her neck let Amelia know that Ellie was head over heels for her recent girlfriend. The worst part was when Ruby stood up to greet her, and Amelia knew that what was there was mutual. Ellie was sweet and fun, and the night ended well. Ruby took her home, and Amelia couldn't help but ask.
"Have you two been a couple?"
Ruby laughed with that sound so uniquely hers.
"No, Ellie has been my best friend since we were kids, plus she's straight and with Marcel."
Then Amelia deceived herself, thinking that what she had seen was her imagination. Later on, she lied to herself again, saying that what was between them, Ruby and Ellie, was something different, but at the end of the day, a friendship. The self-deception didn't last long because Amelia realized that her girlfriend felt something very strong for Ellie and that their relationship would end because of it. But Ruby was loving, attentive, and cared for her very much, so Amelia stopped worrying until Elliedecided to get divorced and she saw a glimmer of hope in her girlfriend's eyes. For some time, Amelia had felt that their relationship wasn't progressing and that, as much as she adored Ruby, something wasn't quite fulfilling her. She didn't have enough courage to leave the tranquility she was in until Ruby took the step. She can't judge her.
Adele Hebert gets up from the armchair when she hears the doorbell ring. She realizes the key is in the lock, but doubts it could be Ruby. Her daughter is usually at home at this hour watching some series with Amelia. When she opens the door, she's stunned; Ruby has swollen eyes, somewhat disheveled hair, and an expression of sadness that breaks her soul.
"Honey..."
