"Ella, I have been teaching for fifty years and I can say without a doubt that you are my favourite student of all time." He informed with a grin "Ever since you first came strolling into my classroom and told me all about your theory that Lewis Carroll was Jack the Ripper because of two anagrams that you found were similar."

I let out a laugh "I do not think you are allowed to say that I am your favourite student."

He grinned again but then it fell as he looked to have remembered something "You and Stone were not arguing about books or anything today. Is everything okay?"

"We are not together anymore." I responded quietly.

"What!" Mr Dankworth's jaw dropped then he gently went on to ask  "I can only assume that it was you that called it off. There is no way on earth that he would do such a thing. What happened?"

"I—" I began but he cut me off.

"Is this about Litora Bello?"

Gaping at him, I questioned "You know about Litora Bello?"

"Of course." He said while taking a seat at his desk "I should really thank that young man. I have won a hundred dollars betting on him."

"It was not about that. I just—" I tried again.

"Is it because you two are slightly opposites from each other?" Mr Dankworth was eager to talk before me because his words were rushed out like he could not contain his restlessness "You have met my husband before. Him and I are very different. Do not tell him but I resent him a little for favouring movies over books. However I love him and I take him as he is."

I commented while laughing "What a monster."

He quickly changed back to the topic on hand "What is it that holds you back?"

"It is hard to explain." I muttered before I gave him an analogy "Think of it as Les Misérables. I am Jean Valjean and Stone is the bread. He is a necessity. He is my lifeline but if I take him then that is only going to lead to trouble. None of the conflicts would have happened in the Victor Hugo book if the main character did not take the bread."

"That is one of the most wonderful yet weirdest analogies I have ever heard." He laughed before he evaluated "So you are trying to say that you are putting yourself through a hard time to avoid having to face it in the future. You are breaking your own heart now to stop yourself from getting your heart broke in the future."

"Exactly." I sighed

"You are not in the French Revolution. Nor are you in a book." He smiled at me sadly as he spoke "The only person dictating your story is you, Ella."

We fell into silence until I stood up and walked to the door.