• Hannah Beth stared at the girl in the mirror who she once knew as herself. Her eyes were colored red and her auburn hair was up in a messy bun. Everything she knew was slowly, but surely falling apart. School was getting harder, her parents wanted a separation, and the one person she loved and relied on had let her down again.

    "Hannah Beth?" her mother gently called through the locked door.
    "Yes, momma?" She called back while trying to get a grip.
    "You would tell me if something was wrong, right?"
    "Yes."
    "Oh...okay, well I'm off to bed. I don't know what time your father is supposed to be home."
    "Okay."

    Hannah Beth paced a hole in the floor and lost most of her body water in tears. Finally, she gave in and picked up her phone.

    "Hello?" the girl's voice sang.
    "L-Leah?" Hannah choked out.
    "Hannah Beth! What's wrong?"
    "Tyler..."
    "Dump. His. Butt. You deserve so much more!"
    "..I just can't."
    "Well, what happened this time?"
    "He ran away again...and now he's grounded till he's 18 and he has no job, no license, and I don't see how he is going to graduate...he promised me things would get better and that he would graduate..."
    "Does he ever keep his promises?"
    "I don't know..."
    "Oh, babe. You need to learn to let go..."
    "But I love him."
    "I know, but this is unhealthy."

    Hannah Beth let out a long sigh, and Leah went on about how Tyler would never be right for her and just the same old things said before. Valentine's day was coming up and the thought of being alone and not with Tyler destroyed Hannah Beth. He was sleeping fine, he wasn't crying, and he wasn't the one going through the pain she was. The pain of being alone and having the one person you love let you down again and again.

    "All I want is for you to be happy, and all you ever do is call me crying and there is nothing I can do. it kills me, Hannah Beth. Any guy would die to have you and you chose him. I mean I took a poll to see who would date you. No one said "No" Hannah. No one!" Leah exclaimed.

    Hannah let out a small laugh.

    "I'm thinking about giving him the ultimatum..."
    "Look, will stand behind any choice you make as long as it is what you want."

    Hannah Beth laid back down on her bed and watched the fan blades turn. She gave in to the inner desire of calling his house, praying he might pick up.

    "Hello?" his mom answered.
    "Uh, hi. I- I know he can't talk...but I was...I mean...I need to talk to him soon...and not in 2 months when he is 18."
    "I know, Hannah Beth. I know this is hard. I feel like when I punish him, I punish you. But he needs to learn...but I have been thinking about Valentine's..."
    "Huh-uh..."
    "I think maybe...you could see him. But that's it."
    "T-T-Thank you." Hannah Beth sobbed out.
    "I know this is hard...I don't know what to tell you. You could give him the ultimatum to see if he changes at all...you have a good head on your shoulders. You're going to go far in life...you can't wait for him to be what you need him to be."
    "Okay...thank you."

    Hannah Beth placed her phone on her nightstand and went back to coloring until she fell asleep on the bed. But soon was awoken to the sound of her phone ringing.

    "Tyler?" she questioned.
    "Hey, baby." he responded.
    "Hi..."
    "What's wrong?"
    "How'd you get the phone?"
    "Oh my parents are asleep."
    "Oh...I-I need to talk to you."
    "What's up?"
    "I was going to talk to you about it tomorrow?"
    "I can see you on Valentine's?!"
    "Yeah." She smiled.
    "Hannah Beth, are you going to leave me?"
    "...no?"
    "You don't sound to sure..."
    "I just need you to change. I need you to grow up. I need you to be the guy who can take care of me. And if you can't do that, then I don't know if I can do this anymore."

    All there was in response to that was silence.

    "I don't want you to change. I love you. I need your actions to change. I mean you can't run from every problem..." Hannah Beth explained.
    "I'll...try. Let's just told about it when I see you tomorrow. I'm really tired."
    "Alright. Night."
    "Night...I love you."
    "I love you too."

    The next morning came a little sooner than Hannah had wanted, but she got up early and drove over to his house. His parents were gone, and Tyler was in the kitchen making eggs.

    "Hi." she called out.
    "Hey." he responded. "So I know I really can't take care of you, but at least I can make you eggs..."

    He set a plate of eggs and glass of milk in front of the tired girl. His lips touched her forehead, and the pain grew in his voice.

    "I made you a Valentine...and got you chocolate." she whispered.
    "Thanks, babe. Oh, here's yours." He handed her a purple box and a frog valentine. She loved frogs.

    "I don't...want to break up." Hannah Beth cried as tears rolled down her small checks. She threw her body into Tyler's and his strong arms wrapped around her petite figure. His blonde hair hid his watery eyes as he stroke her hair.

    "I love you." He whispered over and over.
    "I love you too."
    "I have a surprise for you..."

    He held her smooth small hand and lead her upstairs. Inside his room, balloons floated around and gave the room a red tint and there was a chocolate scent.

    "I know I can't take care of my girlfriend...I can't even take care of myself. But if I am what you want, and if this is what you want... then I can make it work. I can try to change. I already decided that if I have to repeat my senior year, I will. I've started doing more chores around the house, and gone job hunting. You have motivated and I can't afford to lose you.... Hannah Beth, I love you...you give me a reason to change..I need you."
    "Oh, Tyler." she exclaimed as her lips met his. "If you can do all that, then I know one day you'll take care of me, and we'll live happily ever after."

    He picked her up and held her in his arms.

    "Happy Valentine's Day, my lovely." He whispered as he spun her around.