Seeing his tears her own started flowing, it was killing her leaving him but she had to for his sake. "I'm sorry, I never wanted to hurt you but it's over." She reached up and wiped his tears away. "You'll find someone else, someone who will love you back. Now you know you are capable of loving someone. Be happy Ryan, I'll never forget you."
"I'll never love anyone else and I'll never stop loving you. So if you have to go then go. You still have your job if you want it."
"I don't think that will be possible, but thank you." She reaches into her purse and takes out a key, handing it to him. "Here's your key, I'll send someone for my things later."
"Wait, I have something for you. It's your birthday present, I was going to give it to you tonight over dinner." He reaches into his pocket and hands her the small, wrapped box.
"No, I can't accept this."
Taking her hand he places it in her hand. "Take it, do it for me. Where will you go?"
"I think to Nelly's place until I figure out what I'm going to do."
"Oh." Was all he could think of to say.
Holding the gift tightly in her hands she felt more tears falling down her face. "You will find someone much better than me. Bye Ryan."
"Bye Ria. Take care of yourself and if you ever need anything call me."
When the door closed behind her he felt as if his world had just ended, his heart was broken and sitting down, head in his hands he cried.
*********************************************
Sitting in the back of the cab, and as the tears kept falling she unwrapped the gift Ryan had given her. Inside the box was a pair of diamond earrings, ones that dangled. They were the most beautiful earrings she had ever seen. Leaving him was the hardest thing she ever had to do and it was tearing her apart. Paying the driver she goes inside the apartment building where Nelly lived and knocked. As soon as the door opened she went straight into her arms and started crying on her shoulder.
Nelly took her over to the sofa and after having her sit down she went and opened a bottle of wine, pouring them each a large glass. "Now tell me what happened."
After telling her about the ring and how Ryan told her he loved her and begged her to stay she broke down again. "I was wondering if I could stay here with you? just until I find a place to live and a job."
"You can stay here as long as you want to. I have to ask you, are you sure you made the right decision in leaving Ryan? I mean it looks to me like you're also in love with him."
"I don't believe in love."
"Oh, bullshit. I see the way you look at him, how you smile at just the mention of his name so don't tell me you're not in love."
"It was just s£c. When we first hooked up he asked me to be his f**k buddy, we were only to sleep with each other until one of us decided to end it. We were never meant to fall in love. We had all these rules which he kept breaking."
"What kind of rules?"