I knew it was over.
I knew it was over when his touch started to feel foreign.
I knew it was over when his embrace became forced.
I knew it was over when his kisses turned cold.
Still, I hoped it would be back to what it was used to, but it never happened.
What we had was familiarity, comfort, friendship, and a budding romance—on my end, at least, I know that now.
So what can I do when he fell in love with someone else?
It’s not as if he dictated his heart to love someone aside from me.
He tried. He tried hard for me.
I knew he did.
Merlin, he married me.
It was alright for a year. Our honeymoon was spent in France. We traveled a lot, we were at our freest when we did.
So I don’t know when it happened.
Maybe it started when our parents kept hinting at wanting grandchildren.
Maybe it started when I started a career of my own.
Or maybe he just really didn’t see me that way.
He only needed me, not love me.
Not in the romantic sense, anyway.
It hurt, knowing he was physically with me, but his heart was with 𝙝𝙚𝙧.
That whenever he held me, he was thinking of 𝙝𝙚𝙧.
I wasn’t blind, but I refused to see the truth.
I love him too much to let him go.
We are bound.
We are married.
So why does it feel like I’m living someone else’s life?
A perfect fit, but not the right part.
I never thought this would happen. I thought during the time we spent together, he’ll learn to return back the kind of love I have for him.
He wasn’t able to. Because he already gave that love to 𝙝𝙚𝙧.
And it hurts me. To know that without him admitting.
What hurts more is that I can see him suffering, but he doesn’t tell me anything.
I see it in his eyes. How there’s no happiness when he smile.
I see it in the way his eyes light up when an idea comes to mind, but it’s not me that he wants to discuss it with.
I hear it when he mentions her name, never often, only when brought up. Like it’s so fragile, so precious, so loved.
But what sealed it for me was whenever he sleeps, he cries sometimes, but he calls for 𝙝𝙚𝙧.
Like a prayer.
Like salvation.
Like life.
I love him too much to let go.
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But I love him enough to do so.
I asked him to meet me where he proposed, and as always, he came.
Finding nothing else set up, he asked me. “Is everything alright?”
I tried not let my voice waver. “Yes, but you aren’t.”
His eyes were confused and strode towards me. “What do you mean?”
“Draco, I know you’re in love with somebody else.” I told him, blinking back my tears.
“But…”
“I know the situation. And I won’t force myself anymore. I’ve already hindered your life more than I should.”
He shook his head, “No,”
“We both tried to make it work. But you can’t fake love. We can’t force love, Draco,” I held his hands and he held them back. “Because you’re already in love,” I smiled and finally let my tears fall.
Draco reached up to wipe my tears away.
“It’s alright. It’s really alright,” I sobbed. “I’m thankful you tried, really. We were infatuated when we got married, and look at us now. I can’t go against what’s meant to be. I can’t go against your destiny.”
Draco was crying too. His eyes reflecting the rays of sunset, somehow signaling the end of our relationship.
“I hope you don’t mind, but I already took the liberty of filing for this,” I show him a scroll, one with our names on it.
He looked at it and immediately knew what it was.
“All it needs is your signature and this marriage will be dissolved. It was never consumed, so that makes things easier,” I sniffed and turned away to compose myself. “I love you, Draco. So much that I’m ready to let go.”
His arms pulled me close and we cried together. “I’m really sorry. I hope one day, you find it in your heart to forgive me.”
I patted his arm and we pulled away so he can sign the papers.
It was bittersweet. But for the first time, I can genuinely say I was happy.
I was happy for him. For me as well.
“Thank you,” His voice shook. “Thank you.”
Draco held me close and kissed my forehead.
𝘍𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴 ‘𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶’ 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 ‘𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘣𝘺𝘦’.
We then heard a faint pop of apparation nearby and the gazebo where he asked me to marry him lit up and a certain curly haired witch stood inside.
Draco saw 𝙝𝙚𝙧 and I witnessed his face lit up. “Granger…” he turned to me, a bit confused. “I—how?”
“I was your first Lady Malfoy,” I smiled at him and glanced at the witch who looked at us with a grateful smile. “But she will be your last.”
“Astoria… thank you.” He said, eyes glassy.
With one final kiss on my forehead, I let him go.
As I watched him run to her, I smile as two destined souls finally unite.
I accept it now.
I have to let this one-sided love end, so both of our lives—the best we’ll have—can finally begin.
