"Loved you yesterday, love you still, always have, always will." – Elaine Davis

Skylar stood at the edge of the cliff, the ocean waves crashing against the rocks below. Her heart felt heavy, burdened by the weight of a decision she never thought she would have to make. She glanced back at the picturesque town where she had spent countless moments with Caleb, memories now tinged with sorrow. The setting sun painted the sky in hues of orange and pink, mirroring the turmoil within her soul.

Caleb approached, his footsteps barely audible on the soft sand. He could sense the distance between them growing, and it tore at him. "Skylar," he said softly, his voice tinged with concern, "What's going on? Why are you pushing me away?"

Tears welled up in Skylar's eyes as she struggled to find the right words. She wanted to tell Caleb everything, to share the burden of her secret, but the fear of the consequences held her back. "Caleb, I..." she began, but the words caught in her throat.

He took her hands in his, feeling her trembling beneath his touch. "You can tell me anything, Skylar. We've always been honest with each other," he said, trying to reassure her.

But Skylar couldn't bring herself to speak the truth, the truth that would shatter the love they had built together. She withdrew her hands from his gentle grasp. "It's not that simple," she said, her voice breaking.

Caleb's eyes searched hers, trying to understand the pain he saw there. "Then help me understand," he pleaded. "Tell me what's going on, why you're pulling away from me."

A lone tear escaped Skylar's eye, and she turned away, unable to meet his gaze. "I can't do this anymore, Caleb," she whispered. "It's better if we end things now."

Caleb's heart sank, and a sense of desperation washed over him. "But why? What did I do wrong? We were happy together," he implored, trying to grasp at any reason that could salvage their relationship.

"It's not about you, Caleb," Skylar replied, her voice tinged with regret. "I need to figure things out on my own, and I can't do that while we're together."

He took a step closer, refusing to accept her words. "Skylar, we've always been there for each other. Let me be there for you now. We can work through whatever it is together," he said, his voice filled with sincerity.

Skylar felt the weight of his love and support, and for a fleeting moment, she almost confessed the truth. But the fear of hurting him held her back. "No, Caleb," she said firmly, taking a step back. "I need to be alone. Please respect my decision."

Caleb's eyes filled with tears, his heart breaking at her resolve. "If that's what you truly want," he said, his voice barely above a whisper, "then I won't force you to stay."

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a melancholic shadow over the scene, Skylar felt a pang of regret. But she knew she had to stay strong. This was the only way to protect Caleb, even if it meant breaking both their hearts.

With one last tearful glance, Skylar turned away, leaving Caleb standing there, his heartache echoing the crashing waves below. As she walked away from the love she cherished, the weight of her unspoken turmoil threatened to drown her. But she knew that, for now, this was the only path she could walk.

Little did she know that fate had its own plans, and their love story was far from over. The journey of love, loss, and redemption had only just begun, and neither Skylar nor Caleb could foresee the twists and turns that lay ahead. The only certainty was that their love would be tested like never before, and only time would tell if love could truly conquer all.