We Were Delicate, Now Meet Me in The Afterglow (Stendy)

chapter five: delicate

Stan's POV

Dragging myself to school after weeks of self-destruction, the weight of my mistakes clung to me like a shadow. The stench of alcohol lingered on my clothes, a harsh reminder of the nights I tried to drown out the pain of leaving Wendy. The hallway felt like a maze, and each step intensified the knot in my stomach.

And there she was – Wendy. Her presence struck me like a punch to the gut. I glimpsed at her, a reflection of my own shattered heart. The pain etched across her face mirrored the torment I inflicted. I couldn't bring myself to meet her eyes, turning away as our gazes locked. The guilt suffocated me, and I couldn't bear to face the wreckage I'd left in my wake.

Averting my eyes, I trudged through the corridors, the weight of regret pulling me down. Every corner was memorised with the memories of us, now tainted by my own shortcomings. I hated myself for causing her pain, and the shame clung to me like a second skin.

The classrooms became a blur, the lessons mere background noise to the cacophony of my own remorse. The whispers of regret echoed louder than any lecture. I couldn't escape the haunting realization that I had destroyed something beautiful.

The bell rang, signaling the end of the day, but there was no relief for me. The burden of my actions trailed me like a specter. I watched as Wendy gathered her belongings, aching to reach out and apologize, yet paralyzed by my own shame. I couldn't find the words to mend the damage I'd done.

As she walked away, I felt the chasm between us widen, fueled by my own weakness. The silence screamed, louder than any argument we'd ever had. I lingered in the empty hallway, swallowed by the aftermath of my choices. Each step away from her felt like another brick in the wall separating us, and I was left alone in the ruins of what used to be our love.

I'd ignored everyone all day. My best friend, my closest friends. Everyone. Instant regret hit me even harder. This was a mistake coming. A long time coming...

Something so delicate... now unfixable.

Wendy's POV

As I walked down the familiar halls of South Park High, a knot tightened in my stomach. It had been ages since I'd seen Stan, and the wounds he left behind still festered. The cold metal of his locker seemed to echo the chill in my heart. There he was, standing by it, looking worn and distant.

Our eyes met for a fleeting moment, and I felt the sting of unshed tears. The boy I once knew, the one who made my heart skip a beat, was now a stranger. His gaze quickly darted away, avoiding the connection we used to share. It was as if a chasm had opened between us, and no words could bridge the gap.

Memories flooded back—laughter in the park, whispered promises, and dreams we wove together. But life had a cruel way of unraveling those dreams. Stan battled demons I couldn't comprehend, and I, in my naivety, thought love could conquer all.

I watched him fidget with the lock, his hands shaking slightly. The weight of his struggles bore heavily on his shoulders, and the burden of his mental illnesses had torn us apart. As much as I longed to be his anchor, he slipped away like sand through my fingers.

The bell rang, jolting me back to the present. I hesitated, my feet glued to the floor. Stan glanced at me one last time, a fleeting look of regret in his eyes. The hallway buzzed with activity, but I stood there, stuck by the pain of seeing someone I once loved so profoundly reduced to a distant figure.

I turned away, tears streaming down my face. The halls that once echoed with our shared laughter now carried the weight of unspoken sorrow. In that moment, as I pushed through the sea of students, I realized that some heartbreaks leave scars that never truly heal.

It hurt more seeing him than not.