The Breakup

Setting: 

Park bench in a small suburb. A cool breezy day with clouds overhead. The bench is in the middle of a small grove of trees, warm with the browns and golds and reds of autumn. Late evening, with the sun just resting on the horizon, painting the sky deep purples and reds.

Characters:

Liam - college student, average height and weight. Sandy blonde hair in a wind-blown combover. Blue eyes and a five o'clock shadow. Wearing khaki shorts, a button down dress shirt, and Sperrys. Sitting on a bench leaned over his knees, face sternly set.

Elaine - high school junior, short with a nice figure. Thick curly brown hair in a loose bun. Deep brown eyes slightly red and tearing up. Wearing short plaid shorts with a loosely fitting white blouse and flip flops. Arms wrapped around herself on the bench next to Liam, bottom lip trembling.

* * * * *

But…why?

I already explained, Elaine…

No. You haven’t said why. What you told me could not be the reason, it just doesn’t make sense. Liam, everything has been fine, you said –

Elaine stop. You think this is easy for me? To sit here and tell someone I care about that I just can’t do it anymore? You have to realize I’m not sitting here smiling, not cracking jokes and thinking about what I’m doing after I leave here. I…I don’t know. I just know it’s not what’s best anymore. For me. and because of that, I can’t keep dragging this out, and I have to do that for you as well. I can’t be half in a relationship, it’s not fair to either of us. It’s stressing me out, and I know it’s taking a toll on you too. You pretend like everything has been the same, but you know it hasn’t. We barely talk every day. Only every other week do we see each other, if that. I know we don’t live far apart, I basically stayed home for college but still….

But still what? What Liam, you think that I like knowing you’re at parties with other girls, drunk and them even more drunk? Dancing, doing God knows what, and you think I just sit at home and happily hum along in some little Leave it to Beaver world? It stresses me the hell out, but guess what? I don’t care, because regardless I’m still with you. And that’s all I’ve ever asked. I haven’t asked you to do anything differently, I’m just happy to be with you. That’s all I want.

Elaine…listen. We are completely different people. Last year, it was incredible. We were both in school together, I saw you every day, and it was easy. Our differences made things interesting, we always had something to talk about, we had little arguments that kept things moving along. But this year…we’ve had distance between us. It’s given me  space to really look. And I love you to death, you know that, but the differences are just too much now. It’s too much stress, the fights aren’t little anymore, and I don’t get to see you tomorrow and the day after and the day after and the day after to kiss and make up. I just –

So it’s me. It’s not college. So you’re saying –

NO. Stop putting words in my mouth, I didn’t come here to argue with you, I came here to tell you what’s been running through my mind for months now. Elaine, I love you. I always will, in some way. Just not the way you want…

So this is it.

Yeah…this is it.

Liam,  I love you so much. And I want to change your mind so badly –

Elaine, please –

BUT…but…I won’t. I can’t stay with you knowing you aren’t a hundred percent in love with me, knowing you have all these doubts. Even though I want to, I can’t. No matter how much I love you. Just know I will always love you, and there’s nothing you can do to change that.

I don’t want to change that Elaine. I just have to change us…

Yeah…I know.

Listen…I spent my entire senior year with you. You’ll always be special to me. I spent moments I’ll never forget with you. I cried on your shoulder after my last football game. I spent prom, the most wonderful night of my life, with you as my date, and there will never be a more beautiful prom date, ever. I kissed you after graduation. I just…you’ll always have a special place in my heart. And I love you.

I love you too…Liam I don’t know what to do…

It’s going to be fine, Elaine, I promise. It’s going to hurt…it’s going to hurt a lot at first, but we have to get through the first few weeks.

Alone.

Yeah…alone. Elaine…bye. I have to go.

I know…bye Liam. I’ll talk to you…well…yeah.

Okay…

Liam?

Yeah?

I love you. Forever.

I love you too Elaine…I love you too.