Bens face falls. “Bridget,” he says softly.
Her face screws up as tears fill her eyes. “Don’t!” she cries.
“I-I don’t want it to be like this between us,” he stammers.
She pushes him hard in the chest. “You did this. Not me.”
He runs both of his hands through his hair in frustration. “Bridget,” he repeats.
“Why, Ben? Why?”
His haunted eyes hold hers, their hurt evident.
“Answer me!” she screams.
“Come on, Natasha.” Max grabs my arm to stop me listening. They don’t even realise we are here. I snatch it away. “Shh.” I growl.
Ben shakes his head. “I can’t be…” He stops as if not knowing what to say.
“What?” she yells.
He doesn’t answer.
“You can’t be loved, is that it?” she cries.
“Bridget,” he says sadly.
“No. Don’t you dare Bridget me. You spent every night in my arms, and then when I needed you the most–”
He cuts her off. “It was my fault she went missing.”
“That’s bullshit and you know it. I’m going inside and I’m going home with that guy.”
“No!” he yells.
“Maybe I could depend on him. He wouldn’t leave me when I needed him.”
Ben drops his head and my heart breaks for him.
“I can’t be what you want me to be, Bridget,” he says softly.
“Yes, you can, Ben,” she cries.
“I’m not wired like you!” he yells angrily.
The tears run down her face. “Like what? To be loved. To be happy?”
He doesn’t answer.
“Is that the problem? I stupidly told you I loved you that night. Is that why you left me?”
Ben’s face falls as if remembering, and he drops his head. He stands still and doesn’t answer as he thinks.
I put my hand on my chest as my heart breaks for these two.
He looks up and, with renewed control, mutters the word, “Go.”
She screws up her face. “What?”
“Go home with him.”
Bridget’s shoulders slump in defeat. “Ben,” she sobs.
“Its not who I am Bridget. I can’t be that man.”
Bridget puts her head in her hands and starts to weep. Ben turns sadly and disappears inside. Max and I stand shocked as we watch him disappear into the darkness.
“Stupid prick,” Max whispers.
“Natasha,” Joshua calls me from behind and I turn and face my love. I’m so relieved that he and I don’t go through this shit anymore.
“Bridget,” Abbie calls as she comes round the corner in search for her friend.
“Take me and Didge home, boys.” I walk over and grab Didge into an embrace. She is openly heartbroken. I look up the lonely, dark road to home.
Oh, man, what a shitty way to end a great night.