Ruin Series Book 2
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Rachel Van Dyken
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Gabe is a young man haunted by a tragic past and a secret identity. As he navigates his complicated emotions and relationships, he meets Saylor, a music theory major with her own set of challenges. Their paths cross in unexpected ways, leading to a journey of love, redemption, and self-discovery. As they confront their pasts and embrace their futures, they find solace in each other and the music that binds them.
Prologue
Book Two: Toxic
The end of Spring Semester
I would have followed her anywhere.
It's funny, isn't it? People claim to know what love is — yet the minute they're given the opportunity to prove it — they bail.
I wish I could have bailed. I wish I could have walked away four years ago. Then maybe I'd have the strength to walk away now. To look her in the eyes and say, “Sorry, but I can't do this again.”
People rarely mean what they say. To me, sorry was just another word in the English language that people misused — like love.
I love ice cream, I love pancakes, I love the color blue — bullshit. Because when I said love — I meant I bled for you. When the word love actually leaves my lips — I'm speaking it into existence.
I'd always heard about crossroads, how people are given choices in their lives, choices that either make or break them.
Her eyes pleaded with mine.
My heart, my soul, it couldn't survive anything happening to her. If she weren't in my world, my heart would stop. I knew it was killing her — because it was destroying me.
But going back to that life.
Even for her.
Was out of the question.
Falling in love, jumping out, even knowing full well that she'd catch me. It wasn't an option. Because everyone knows, when it comes to love, it's not the fall that hurts… it's the landing.
Because in the end… that's all I was — broken. A shell of a human.
“I don't understand!” She beat against my chest with her fists. “You promised me! You promised you'd never leave!” Tears streamed down her face, the face I used to love.
I was at a crossroads all right. One path led to my future — the other to my past and utter self-destruction.
I couldn't look at her. I ignored every thread of feeling — and relished the pain of my heart breaking into a million pieces as I held out my hand in front of me. “You're right, I promised.”
“Gabe!” Saylor yelled from behind me. “It doesn't have to be like this.”
“Don't you see?” I said quietly without turning around. “It's always been like this, it will always be like this. I warned you.”
“But—”
“Enough!” I yelled, tears threatening to stream down my face. “I said enough. You should go.”
Behind me, the door slammed.
“It's okay!” she said, cupping my face. “It will finally be okay!”
“Alright, Princess.” I choked on the word. “Alright.” I tightened the pink scarf around her neck and put my arm around her.
“Thanks.” She sighed happily. “You always promised you'd take care of me. You can't leave, you can't—”
“I won't,” I vowed because it was my fault. Just like everything else.
“Can we go play now, Gabe?”
“Yeah, sweetheart, we can.” I folded the blanket around her legs and pushed her wheelchair out of the room, knowing full well that I was choosing the wrong path — with every step I took.
