When Hanna got home that night, she sent Finn message after message, her mind racing with everything she wished she’d said, every plea for reassurance that he was still with her. Each time she checked, the messages remained unread. The hours dragged on, her hopes dwindling as the silence grew.
By the next day, worry turned to dread. She tried calling him, but the phone rang once before going to voicemail. She tried again, then again, until finally, on the fifth try, the call connected.
“Hello?” Finn’s voice sounded distant, strained.
“Finn,” she breathed, relief flooding her voice. “I’ve been trying to reach you. Are you okay?”
There was a pause, then a sigh. “Hanna… this is really hard. I don’t know what to do.”
Hanna felt her chest tighten, sensing the weight of his hesitation. “We’ll figure it out,” she said, her voice pleading. “We promised each other we’d make this work, remember?”
“I know,” he replied quietly, but his words lacked the conviction she’d heard just days ago. “But my parents… they’re serious, Hanna. They’re threatening to cut me off if I don’t focus on what they want. They’re… they’re worried you’re not right for me.”
The words hung between them, slicing through Hanna’s heart. “And what do you think?” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Finn was silent for a long moment. “I… I don’t know right now. I just need some time to think.”
The line went dead a moment later, leaving Hanna to stare at her phone, numb. The boy who had promised to stand by her, no matter what, now felt like a stranger.
By midday, she felt as though she couldn’t bear it alone any longer. Without much thought, she texted Emily and Elordi, asking if she could come over. Within minutes, they both replied, each message filled with warmth and support. They agreed to meet her at Emily’s house, and by the time she arrived, they were already waiting, their faces drawn with concern.
Hanna barely made it through the door before Emily pulled her into a hug. “Oh, Hanna, you look exhausted. What happened?”
Elordi stood close by, his usual easygoing smile replaced with a worried frown. “Yeah, we’re here for you. Spill it, everything.”
Hanna sank onto the couch, feeling the weight of her emotions press down on her. She took a deep breath, then let the whole story pour out—the video, Finn’s parents’ reaction, the horrible things they’d said, the ultimatum they had given him. By the time she reached the end, her voice wavered, and she had to fight back tears.
“Now he won’t even pick up my calls,” she finished quietly, staring down at her hands. “It’s like he’s already made his choice.”
Emily’s face was a mix of anger and sympathy. “Hanna, that’s awful. I knew his parents were intense, but to go that far? They had no right to treat you that way.”
“And they gave him an ultimatum?” Elordi asked, his eyes flashing with indignation. “That’s not even fair. If he really cares about you, he should stand up to them. I thought he already had.”
Hanna nodded, struggling to keep her voice steady. “I thought so too. He said he would, but now… now he won’t even talk to me. It’s like he’s already listening to them, like they’ve gotten into his head.”
Emily wrapped an arm around her shoulder, squeezing her tight. “Hey, don’t jump to conclusions yet. He’s probably just processing all of this. You know how intense his family can be, and this whole thing must be a nightmare for him, too.”
Elordi leaned forward, a serious look on his face. “Hanna, you’ve been so strong through all of this. But maybe… maybe Finn needs a reality check. If he really can’t see past his parents’ pressure, then that’s something he has to face. You’re not responsible for their expectations.”
“I know you’re right,” Hanna murmured, her heart heavy. “But it hurts. I feel like everything we’ve been through doesn’t even matter to him anymore. We promised we’d stick together, no matter what.”
Emily’s gaze softened as she rubbed Hanna’s back. “Then let him figure out how much that promise means. Sometimes people get so wrapped up in their own families that they can’t see what they’re losing until it’s gone.”
“Maybe you should let him reach out first,” Elordi suggested gently. “Let him see what it’s like without you around, without the comfort of knowing you’re just waiting by your phone.”
Hanna took a shaky breath, feeling the smallest glimmer of strength return. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe I should stop chasing him and just… let him decide.”
“Exactly,” Emily agreed, giving her a reassuring smile. “You’re worth so much more than someone who won’t fight for you.”
They sat with her in silence for a while, each of them sharing stories from their own lives to lift her spirits. Emily made her tea and refused to let her leave until she’d eaten something, while Elordi threw in a few jokes to lighten the mood.
By the time Hanna left that evening, her heart still ached, but a quiet resolve had settled within her. She couldn’t force Finn to choose her, but she could stop letting herself feel so powerless. It was time to focus on her own happiness—and let Finn decide if he wanted to be part of it.