Mariana took a deep breath before knocking on Aster’s door. She knew that she had hurt Aster deeply and didn’t know how she would react to seeing her again.

As Aster opened the door, Mariana could see the irritation in her eyes. “What the hell are you doing here?” Aster asked coldly.

Mariana swallowed hard, trying to hold back her tears. “I know I hurt you, Aster. And I’m so sorry. I just needed to see you and talk to you. Please,” she begged, “let me explain.”

Aster’s heart was racing as she listened to Mariana’s words. She wanted to push her away and never see her again, but there was a part of her that couldn’t resist Mariana’s presence. “Fine,” she said reluctantly, “come in.”

Mariana entered Aster’s room and sat on the bed, nervously fidgeting with her hands. She looked up at Aster, whose expression was cold and distant.

“I know I messed up,” Mariana began, “and I don’t blame you for being angry with me. But I need you to understand that I never meant to hurt you.”

Aster scoffed, “That’s bullshit, Mariana. You knew exactly what you were doing. You played with my heart and then just left me without any explanation.”

Mariana hung her head in shame. “I know, and I hate myself for it. But please, Aster, hear me out. I was going through a really difficult time, and I didn’t know how to handle it. I didn’t want to burden you with my problems, so I pushed you away.”

Aster’s heart ached as she listened to Mariana’s words. She knew all too well what it was like to struggle with inner demons. “I get it,” she said, her voice softer now. “But that doesn’t excuse what you did to me. You broke my heart, Mariana, and I don’t know if I can ever forgive you.”

Mariana looked up at Aster, tears streaming down her face. “I understand if you can’t forgive me,” she said. “But please, Aster, don’t let this be the end of us. I love you more than anything, and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make things right.”

Aster’s heart was torn between her love for Mariana and the pain she had caused her. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm the turmoil inside her. “I need some time to think,” she said finally. “But I promise you, Mariana, that I’ll consider what you’ve said.”

Mariana nodded, wiping away her tears. “Thank you, Aster. I’ll wait for you, no matter how long it takes.”

As Mariana left Aster’s room, Aster couldn’t help but feel a sense of bleakness wash over her. She didn’t know if she could ever trust Mariana again, and the thought of losing her forever was too much to bear.

Over the next few days, Aster struggled with her feelings for Mariana. She didn’t know if she could forgive her, but she also couldn’t imagine a life without her. Her heartbreak was consuming her, and she felt like she was drowning in a sea of emotions.

But amidst the pain and confusion, Aster had a realization. She realized that she was stronger than she thought she was, and that she didn’t need anyone to define her worth. She had her resilience, her strength, and she would survive this heartbreak.

Aster watched Mariana leave, feeling a mix of sadness and relief. She knew she had hurt Mariana deeply, but she also knew that she couldn’t keep stringing her along. It was time for both of them to move on.

She took a deep breath and turned back to her work, trying to focus on the tasks at hand. But her mind kept wandering back to Mariana, and she couldn’t shake off the feeling of regret.

She realized that she had been so focused on her own needs and desires that she had failed to consider Mariana’s feelings. She had been selfish and thoughtless, and now she was paying the price.

But she also realized that she had to be strong and move on. She couldn’t let this setback define her, and she couldn’t let it crush her spirit.

With a newfound sense of resilience, Aster resolved to take control of her life and her emotions. She knew it wouldn’t be easy, but she was determined to make it through.

As the days passed, Aster found herself slowly but surely moving on from Mariana. She threw herself into her work, pushing herself harder than ever before. She poured her heart and soul into every project, determined to prove to herself and the world that she was capable of greatness.

And as she worked, she felt a sense of realization wash over her. She realized that she had been searching for something that didn’t exist, something that could never be found in another person.

She had been searching for happiness outside of herself when all it had been inside her all along. She didn’t need anyone else to make her happy, she just needed to find happiness within herself.

With this newfound realization, Aster felt a sense of peace wash over her. She knew that no matter what life threw her way, she would always be able to find the strength to overcome it.

And so, she continued to work hard and push herself to new heights. She never forgot about Mariana and the lessons she had learned from their relationship, but she knew that it was time to move forward and focus on herself.

Mariana sat in her car, staring blankly ahead as she waited for Aster to return. Her heart was heavy with a mix of emotions – disappointment, anger, and sadness. She couldn’t believe Aster had stood her up yet again.

The minutes ticked by, turning into hours, and Mariana’s mind began to spiral. Doubts and insecurities crept in, wondering if Aster had intentionally ditched her or if something had happened to her. The bleakness of the situation consumed her, and she couldn’t help but feel like she was being punished for caring too much.

Heartbreak washed over her in waves as she remembered all the times Aster had promised to be there for her but had let her down. She had given Aster so many chances, hoping that this time would be different, but it seemed like she was always left disappointed. Regret weighed heavily on her too, for allowing herself to get hurt over and over again by someone who didn’t seem to value her as much as she did them.

As she sat there, lost in her thoughts, Mariana knew she needed to let go. She couldn’t keep putting herself through this pain and disappointment, and it was time to move on. A sense of clarity washed over her, and she knew what she had to do. She took a deep breath, wiped away her tears, and started her car, ready to drive away from the heartbreak and onto a new chapter of her life.