Fractured Love

Leaving this here. If you'd like me to add more, feel free to reach out anytime.

It was once the kind of love people only whispered about in awe. Chloe had always believed that her relationship with Nate was the kind of love people wrote songs about, the kind that made hearts beat faster, the kind that would last forever. From their very first kiss, she was sure of it. He was everything she needed. Or so she thought.

But sometimes love wasn't enough. Sometimes, love turned into something darker, something dangerous.

One night, the anger she’d never seen coming broke out in a fury. She’d questioned him—just once, about where he had been all afternoon—and the words he shouted were like shards of glass cutting through her soul. His fists followed, and within moments, he had her on the ground, struggling for breath, her vision spinning.

She woke up in the hospital, the sterile white walls feeling colder than any night she’d ever spent. Her body ached, but it was the pain in her heart that crushed her most. Nate had been the man she loved—the man she thought would never hurt her.

But he did.

The doctor’s voice broke through the fog of her mind. “You’re pregnant, Chloe. You’re carrying a baby.”

She couldn't speak. Her body felt numb, her emotions a swirl of confusion. She hadn't even had the chance to process what had happened to her, and now, she had a life inside her—her baby, her little girl, Emmy. A child conceived in love but born from violence.

The decision was clear. Nate had to be out of her life. He had no right to be a part of her world anymore. She walked away from him without a backward glance. She couldn’t let him near her—couldn’t let him near their daughter.

The months passed in a haze. Chloe focused on herself, on growing stronger, and on keeping her baby safe. But then, fate had a cruel way of making things twist.

It was two months later when she saw him again.

Chloe walked down the street, her pace slow as she tried to clear her head. The past weeks had been filled with moments of quiet panic. It wasn’t the loss of Nate that had hurt her the most, but the feeling of being betrayed by the person who had promised her love. She'd spent nights crying into her pillow, and the days blurred into a routine of doctor’s visits and pregnancy classes. She just wanted some peace.

Then, she saw them. Nate and Luke.

Nate’s voice cut through the quiet hum of the street, and Chloe froze in her tracks. He was standing in front of the café, talking to Luke. Her stomach twisted painfully, panic flooding her chest.

She hadn’t seen Nate since she left. The last time she laid eyes on him, she was running out of his apartment, terrified, bruised, and broken. Now, here he was, standing in the street like nothing had happened, casually talking to Luke.

Her heart hammered in her chest as she took a step back, but Luke’s eyes found hers first. His expression immediately shifted, confusion, then concern flickering across his face. He began to move toward her, but Nate’s gaze followed, his eyes narrowing with recognition.

“Chloe,” Nate called out, his voice both smooth and menacing. He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes.

The sight of him, so close, filled her with a sudden rush of terror. Her breath hitched, and the world around her began to spin. She couldn’t do this. She couldn't face him. She turned to flee, her legs trembling, but they gave out beneath her, and she collapsed onto the cold pavement.

“Chloe!” Luke’s voice was frantic as he dropped to his knees beside her. He pulled her into his arms, his touch warm and grounding.

She could feel the panic rising, her body shaking uncontrollably. It was like the floodgates had opened. Memories of Nate—his anger, his violent hands, his twisted words—rushed back at her, suffocating her.

“Breathe, Chloe. Just breathe,” Luke’s voice was a calm anchor. “Focus on me.”

She clung to him, struggling to steady her breath. “I… I can’t…” she gasped. “I can’t… not again.”

Luke’s grip tightened, but there was no pressure, just safety. His arms wrapped around her, gently pulling her back into the present. “You’re okay. I’ve got you. You’re safe.”

For what felt like an eternity, Chloe’s world was nothing but the steady beat of Luke’s heart, the soft rhythm of his voice. Slowly, her breathing began to steady. The panic receded, though it left a lingering knot of fear in her stomach.

When she was finally able to sit up, she wiped her tear-streaked face with the back of her hand. Luke didn’t move away, just sat beside her, his presence as solid as the ground beneath her.

“You okay?” His voice was quiet, and soft, but there was a deep concern in it.

“I… I don’t know,” Chloe whispered. “I haven’t seen him… since… since everything.”

“I know,” Luke said. His hand reached out to touch hers, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. “But you don’t have to face him alone.”

Chloe squeezed his hand, grateful, but the words lodged in her throat. She wanted to ask why he was always there for her, but the truth was, she had known Luke her whole life. He was the steady presence, the quiet protector. But at this moment, she felt something more stirring between them. Something that went beyond friendship.

Over the next few days, Luke stayed close, always checking in, bringing her food, walking with her, and making sure she was okay. They didn’t talk about the moment on the street again. Chloe wasn’t ready to confront the depth of what had just happened.

One evening, after a long walk, Luke took her hand and led her to a bench in the park. The air was warm, but there was a chill in her heart that wouldn’t go away.

“Chloe…” His voice was hesitant. “I know it’s not the right time, and I don’t want to pressure you, but… I need to know something.”

She looked up at him, unsure of where this was going. “What is it?”

He paused, his gaze steady. “What happened with Nate… it wasn’t your fault. You know that, right?”

“I know,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. But even as she said it, the doubt lingered in her heart. How could she have missed the signs? How could she have let herself fall so deeply into someone who could hurt her so badly?

Luke squeezed her hand, his thumb brushing over her knuckles again. “And if you ever need to talk… or if you just need someone to be there… I’m not going anywhere.”

“I don’t want to hurt you, Luke,” she said quietly, not meeting his eyes. “I’m not… I’m not ready for anything right now.”

His voice was gentle. “You don’t have to be ready for anything, Chloe. I’m not asking for anything. I’m just here. For you. And Emmy.”

The mention of her baby made her stomach flutter. Luke was right. He had always been there for her. And the more time they spent together, the more Chloe realized how much she relied on him. He was a constant in her life, a source of comfort and stability.

But something more was stirring between them. She couldn’t ignore it, no matter how hard she tried.

A month later, Chloe received a bouquet at her door. She picked up the card, her heart sinking when she saw the familiar handwriting. It was from Nate. He was asking her to come back. To forgive him.

She stared at the flowers, unable to process the conflicting emotions swirling inside her. But before she could even take a deep breath, the doorbell rang. Her pulse raced as she opened the door, finding Luke standing there.

In his hand was a small box. He looked nervous and unsure, but his eyes were filled with determination.

“Chloe,” he began softly, “I know this isn’t the right moment. But I have to ask you something. I’ve been thinking about it for a long time. And I can’t wait any longer.”

He sank to one knee, holding the ring in his hand, his gaze never leaving hers.

“Chloe, will you marry me?” His voice was steady now, unwavering. “Will you let me protect you and Emmy? I can’t promise you a perfect life, but I can promise you that I’ll give you all the love and safety I can. I’ll be the man you need, and I’ll be everything Nate wasn’t.”

Tears welled up in her eyes as she stared at him. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. Luke had always been there for her, and now, he was asking her to trust him, to let him in.

Her heart swelled with emotion, and without a second thought, she nodded.

“Yes. Yes, Luke. I’ll marry you.”

He stood up, his face breaking into a relieved smile as he slid the ring onto her finger. And in that moment, Chloe realized she had found the love she deserved, the kind of love that could heal her, protect her, and give her a future full of hope.

The past was behind her, and with Luke by her side, she was ready to face whatever came next. Together.