Too Late 7

Chapter 7 

The car screeched to a halt in front of the house. River barely put it in park before throwing the door open. Gravel crunched beneath his shoes as he sprinted toward the front door, heart pounding louder than the engine still humming behind him. 

“Allison!” he shouted, bursting through the door. 

Darkness. 

Complete, still darkness. 

No warm lights. No soft humming from the kitchen. No scent of baked cookies she made whenever he came home late, even if they weren’t talking. Just silence. 

The kind of silence that haunted. 

He flicked on the light switch. The chandelier above flickered weakly to life. The living room stood frozen in time-cushions untouched, no shoes by the door, no sweater slung over the arm of the couch like she always left. 

No Allison. 

River stood there, unmoving, trying to make sense of it. This was their home-her home. Where was the life? The laughter? The chaos of her plants taking up every windowsill? 

His eyes wandered across the room and landed on the wall near the stairs-the one she’c decorated with polaroids. 

They were still there. 

The first day they moved in. Their “accidental” first kiss. Their vacation in Venice where he retended to be annoyed by her excitement but secretly memorized her laughter. Her birthday vhere he bought the wrong cake but she laughed and said it was perfect anyway. 

He remembered the way she used to fill this place with too much energy. It annoyed him. He inging while cooking. Her dancing in socks. Her asking about his day even when she knew he’d gnore the question. 

And yet… somehow, that chaos had turned into comfort. 

le closed his eyes. 

You should paint this wall,” she once said, standing in this very room. 

Why? It’s fine.” 

It’s boring,” she said with a smile. “But it’s okay, I’ll paint it. I’ll do everything. I know you don’t ike fixing things.” 

That’s not true.” 

‘You don’t even fix your tie.” 

He’d smirked and she had giggled. Then she leaned in and fixed his collar herself. 

God, he hadn’t even thanked her that day. 

‘Allison!” he yelled again, voice echoing this time-mocking him. 

He stormed up the stairs two at a time, heart sinking deeper with each step. 

Chanterb 

The bedroom door creaked as he pushed it open. 

The lamp was on-but dimmed. And sitting on the bed was the very last thing he wanted to see. A neat stack. Her wedding ring. 

A sealed letter. 

A box with a ribbon-the birthday gift she must’ve planned to give before everything fell apart. And beside it all… divorce papers. 

‘No,” he whispered. 

He crossed the room and stared down at the documents. 

She had already signed. 

His name was still blank. 

t felt like his lungs forgot how to breathe. 

He picked up the letter and sat on the edge of the bed. His hands shook as he unfolded it. 

River, 

don’t know what I was expecting when I married you. Maybe I thought, if I loved you enough ou’d eventually love me back. Maybe I thought I could change you. I was wrong on both. But lespite everything, I want you to know I tried. I gave you everything I had. And now I have othing left to give. You said I was just convenient. A placeholder. So I’m setting you free. You on’t have to pretend anymore. You can have Candice. I’ll love you from a distance, River. But won’t lose myself in you anymore. Goodbye. – Allison 

lis fingers clenched around the paper. 

No,” he growled, crumpling the letter. “No.” 

le grabbed the divorce papers and tore them apart, piece by piece, until the fragments fell like now at his feet. 

This isn’t happening,” he muttered, yanking out his phone and dialing her number. 

ing. Then-nothing. 

flat tone. Number cannot be reached. 

He tried again. 

And again. 

Why…?” His voice cracked. 

Why did it hurt so much? 

sn’t this what he wanted? Allison out of the way. Candice by his side. The dream he once lost coming back to him. 

Years ago, he had proposed to Candice. She laughed it off, choosing her career. And in his rage, his wounded pride, he agreed to marry Allison-his parents’ choice, the quiet girl with big eyes 

and a soft heart. 

A placeholder. At least, that’s what he told himself. 

But now, sitting alone in a house that no longer felt like home, surrounded by memories that 

clawed at his chest. River realized something terrifvina. 

Chapter 7 

The car screeched to a halt in front of the house. River barely put it in park before throwing the door open. Gravel crunched beneath his shoes as he sprinted toward the front door, heart pounding louder than the engine still humming behind him. 

“Allison!” he shouted, bursting through the door. 

Darkness. 

Complete, still darkness. 

No warm lights. No soft humming from the kitchen. No scent of baked cookies she made whenever he came home late, even if they weren’t talking. Just silence. 

The kind of silence that haunted. 

He flicked on the light switch. The chandelier above flickered weakly to life. The living room stood frozen in time-cushions untouched, no shoes by the door, no sweater slung over the arm of the couch like she always left. 

No Allison. 

River stood there, unmoving, trying to make sense of it. This was their home-her home. Where was the life? The laughter? The chaos of her plants taking up every windowsill? 

His eyes wandered across the room and landed on the wall near the stairs-the one she’ decorated with polaroids. 

They were still there. 

The first day they moved in. Their “accidental” first kiss. Their vacation in Venice where he pretended to be annoyed by her excitement but secretly memorized her laughter. Her birthday where he bought the wrong cake but she laughed and said it was perfect anyway. 

He remembered the way she used to fill this place with too much energy. It annoyed him. He singing while cooking. Her dancing in socks. Her asking about his day even when she knew he’c gnore the question. 

And yet… somehow, that chaos had turned into comfort. 

He closed his eyes. 

You should paint this wall,” she once said, standing in this very room. 

Why? It’s fine.” 

It’s boring,” she said with a smile. “But it’s okay, I’ll paint it. I’ll do everything. I know you don’ ike fixing things.” 

‘That’s not true.” 

‘You don’t even fix your tie.” 

He’d smirked and she had giggled. Then she leaned in and fixed his collar herself. 

God, he hadn’t even thanked her that day. 

“Allison!” he yelled again, voice echoing this time-mocking him. 

He stormed up the stairs two at a time, heart sinking deeper with each step. 

The bedroom door creaked as he pushed it open. 

The lamp was on-but dimmed. And sitting on the bed was the very last thing he wanted to see. 

A neat stack. Her wedding ring. 

A sealed letter. 

A box with a ribbon-the birthday gift she must’ve planned to give before everything fell apart. And beside it all… divorce papers. 

‘No,” he whispered. 

He crossed the room and stared down at the documents. 

She had already signed. 

His name was still blank. 

t felt like his lungs forgot how to breathe. 

He picked up the letter and sat on the edge of the bed. His hands shook as he unfolded it. 

River, 

don’t know what I was expecting when I married you. Maybe I thought, if I loved you enough ‘ou’d eventually love me back. Maybe I thought I could change you. I was wrong on both. Bu lespite everything, I want you to know I tried. I gave you everything I had. And now I have othing left to give. You said I was just convenient. A placeholder. So I’m setting you free. You lon’t have to pretend anymore. You can have Candice. I’ll love you from a distance, River. But von’t lose myself in you anymore. Goodbye. – Allison 

His fingers clenched around the paper. 

No,” he growled, crumpling the letter. “No.” 

He grabbed the divorce papers and tore them apart, piece by piece, until the fragments fell like now at his feet. 

This isn’t happening,” he muttered, yanking out his phone and dialing her number. 

Ring. Then-nothing. 

A flat tone. Number cannot be reached. 

He tried again. 

And again. 

‘Why…?” His voice cracked. 

Why did it hurt so much? 

Isn’t this what he wanted? Allison out of the way. Candice by his side. The dream he once lost coming back to him. 

Years ago, he had proposed to Candice. She laughed it off, choosing her career. And in his rage, his wounded pride, he agreed to marry Allison-his parents’ choice, the quiet girl with big eyes 

and a soft heart. 

A placeholder. At least, that’s what he told himself. 

But now, sitting alone in a house that no longer felt like home, surrounded by memories that 

clawed at his chest, River realized something terrifying. 

He missed her. The real her. 

The girl who patched his torn shirts. Who reminded him to take his vitamins. Who cried silently during sad movies and always pretended she didn’t. 

He remembered once, years ago, waking up at 3 AM, unable to sleep. She was in the kitchen, making hot chocolate. 

“Couldn’t sleep either?” she asked gently. 

He only nodded, and she handed him a cup without saying anything else. 

They drank in silence, and for once, it felt… safe. 

He hadn’t thought about that night until now. 

Why did it feel like something was hollowing him out from the inside? 

Tears burned his eyes before he could stop them. 

Please…” he whispered, gripping her ring in his palm like it might bring her back. “Come back 

Allison.” 

But the silence that answered him was colder than anything he’d ever known. 

8:17 pm