Cliché

The rays of the sun danced into the room through the slightly open window, the curtains swaying to the rhythm of the wind. There was a certain heaviness in the air that spoke of loss. Natalie threw the stuffed toy in her hand at the wall. The teddy bear bounced and fell to the floor.

"I love you, Natalie Rose." A man's voice echoed from it. Natalie's tear-stricken ebony eyes peeked from under the thick blanket, welling up again "I love you, Natalie Rose." The pre-recorded message repeated. A muffled sob erupted from her lips that were now clasped by her hand. Scurrying from her bed, she quickly lifted the teddy and held it to her heart. It smelt like him. Of course, it did, it was made from his shirt. Natalie closed her eyes, breathing in what was left of his scent as her lungs burned in pure sorrow that she was sure was too much for her heart to take in.

She remembered the many times he had held her in his warm sturdy arms.

Memories of how his piercing blue eyes would glimmer when he surprised her with little presents, how his voice would dip after they had kissed, how they would lie amongst the sheet with her head over his bare chest listening to the steady beat of his heart ran through her mind like a movie. Those were probably the only times, Natalie felt hope surge in her. Those were the only times, Natalie felt like she belonged. She remembered how he scooped her up in his arms and held her quietly when her past caused her emotions to sink. She remembered how he was prepared to leave everything behind just for her without a single care about what anyone would think and all he needed in return was for her to say the three basic words. Three basic words that seemed impossible for her to say out loud.

"Tell me you love me and I'll never let go." She heard his smooth voice glide across her heart, causing a pang.

She then recalled how broken he'd looked. How when she woke up that morning, there was no evidence of his existence. This caused another wave of tears to erupt both in pain and guilt. She gasped sharply, her free hand now splayed on her chest. It felt like her throat was stapled shut, and there was no way she could either talk or breathe. All she could do was whimper in pain that no doctor could cure. She took deep breaths, trying to calm herself slightly. The sudden ring of her phone caused her to jump in fright. She reached for it and saw the display, her eyes filling up even more.

Malcolm Holmes Calling...

She answered the phone and pressed it to her ear "Natalie?"

"hmm.." She cleared her throat "Here." Rasping, she stood up.

"I..." Malcolm seemed to soften his tone "Listen, I heard what happened."

Her ebony eyes scanned the little bundle of pictures stuck on the wall. One picture stood out to her as she held it in her hand, dropping the toy on the table. It was the both of them at the annual fair. She was holding cotton candy, and he was embracing her from behind. In her other hand, was the teddy bear that was currently soaked with her tears. "He's.."

"He's proceeding with it, as planned." Malcolm answered, "Are you all right?"

Natalie felt a lump in her throat that was hard to swallow. There were two ways she could have answered his question. She could either tell Malcolm the truth about how she was falling apart without him, or she could tell him a lie, that she was perfectly fine. Natalie chose the latter "I'm..okay." She answered, trying her best to control her shaking voice.

"Is that why you sound so miserable?" He asked her. Had it been that obvious? Natalie sank into the chair by the window, staring outside. She didn't want to answer him. She didn't want to let him know that she was indeed miserable. But the more she remained quiet, the more she felt her control over her emotions slip "I know you're not okay, Nat. For Christ's sake, just this once let me help you."

"Help me how, Mal?" She rasped "He's gone. There is absolutely no way anyone can help me. I...I don't even need any help." Wiping the tears that slipped from her eyes, she clenched the phone tighter "I knew this would happen. Love never lasts. Your dreams of a happily ever after are but an illusion. Love is flawed. Love...Love is-"

"Sound's like you're trying to convince yourself." He sounded frustrated. Natalie wasn't surprised. It was her area of specialty, she told herself, She was an expert in frustrating people and then driving them out of her life "Are you going to come to.."

"No." She was quick to answer "He has chosen for himself and...I wouldn't want to manipulate him, not more than I already have. I proved to him what he had asked me to do." Trying her best to sound casual, Natalie placed the picture on the table beside the teddy bear.

"Nat, I-"

"Malcolm, you've been my best friend in times like this. Possibly, the only one who cares about me anymore." She sighed "I've done enough damage as is. It's better this way. Please, I really hope that you understand that much."

There was a brief silence on the other end and then a resigned sigh. Natalie knew she had won this war "I can't force you to do anything."

"Hmm, you can't." She hummed.

"All right then." Malcolm said, "You take care of yourself, Nat."

"I will." She sighed "I'm sorry for all the trouble that I've caused."

"Matt is a strong man, Nat. I think he'll be able to handle it. He knows what he's getting himself into."

"Right." Natalie sighed. Just before the call ended, she called his name "Mal?"

"Yeah?"

She bit her lower lip hard enough to draw blood and cleared her throat before continuing "Did I ever stand a chance?"

A soft chuckle echoed on the other side. The tone of the chuckle, however, bore the same heaviness, Natalie carried in her heart. 'Please tell me, I didn't. Please.' That was all she thought to herself because letting go of a love that never stood a chance was way more comfortable.

"Natalie." Malcolm's voice was heavy with an unrecognized emotion "You...You lit a fire in him that I hadn't seen since we were children. You changed him for the better. He was happy around you. He smiled a lot around you. He seemed like a madman. He'd glow just at the mention of your name, and yet, here you are, asking me the question that I never thought you'd ask."

Her heart grew heavy with every word Malcolm uttered. Had she really done those things to him? She refused to believe that anything she did benefited him and that they ever had a shot together "Tell me.."

"As sad as it may sound, Natalie Rose, You did." Natalie felt her heartache grow stronger at these very words "You did stand a chance once.."