Need to

Laura feels terrible. Seeing the tears behind Nate’s own eyes felt as badly as if she had hauled off and slapped him.

Turning back to the table, she takes a napkin to wipe her eyes, but they just didn't seem to want to stop crying, even as silently as it was.

Her gaze won't lift. She felt as if her eyes were glued to the table. The color had returned to her cheeks and all she could do was feel awful.

The food came. But she wasn't hungry. Making small talk just seemed too hard. She had ruined their evening. She had ruined Nate's evening.

She swirls her fork on her plate. But only a few bites had been taken.

Nate had tried so hard. He'd done such a beautiful job of proposing. No man had ever expressed love to her like he had. And it made her feel like a princess. But she'd ruined it. She'd ruined it all. She was leaving him in a terrible position, and now there was an awkward tension between them that she hated.

Unable to take it any longer, Laura finally stands up. Setting her napkin down, she picks up her purse. "I'm sorry," she apologizes quietly. "I... I need to go." Passing by Nate, she leans down to give his forehead a kiss, but she doesn't linger. She has to get out before the waterworks started again.

The night air felt good. But not good enough. Her car was dark and it drew a strange comfort around her. But it was quiet. She felt alone. She was lonely and had just left someone who had offered her the world.

Frustrated, she starts the engine and pulls out into traffic.