ned toward evening. The sky above her was wide and pale blue, streaked faintly with drifting clouds, but she barely

atter of plates, the hum of conversation, the way his family filled the room with a kind of loud affection she wasn't u

Jad

pockets, shoulders relaxed. The way he listened when she spoke, really listened, not rushing

smile to her lips be

ing in fragments, each one gentle enough to soften the wei

he corner ont

sto

n her throat so sudd

ria

had always been part of the scenery. One shoulder pressed to the rough bark, phone loose in h

lid slowly f

re she was ready to face. Emotions she thought she had carefully pac

cross his face. His hair was slightly tousled, sleeves rolled up just enough to loo

r presence was a pleasant surprise rat

led instinctivel

as holding. "Hey... Adrian." The smile she offered was polite, res

hone into his pocket as he stepped closer. "I didn't expect

settled heavil

ffe

im

sibi

d through her chest, familiar and dangerous all at once. Adrian had always had tha

feelings had wrapped themselves around even when he wasn't looking her

t t

ad

ience. The way he had been there without ever asking for more than she could give. The way he

re pressed against her chest, filling

owly, winding itse

e felt standing there. Torn between something familiar and something that felt

softly. Her voice wavered only slightly

s expression before he masked it with a shrug

e she could second-guess herself. She walked p

dn't lo

d questioning, long after she had turne

rived faster tha

hter and raised voices, students celebrating freedom, hugging, exchanging plans and promises they weren't

ugh it all with a wei

o his pockets, watching people pass by. His chest felt tight, a

g for vacation

ith excitement. Now it felt like a

ded to

for l

t on

efore h

imated as she spoke. Something twisted in his chest at the sight of her smile. He

te the tension in his shoulders. "Before I lea

he let on. He didn't push. D

omething unreadable passed through her eyes-hesitation, conflict, maybe

, Jaden, but I have er

ed rehearsed, eve

He forced a smile, the kind he had learned to we

aid quietly. "

ow to bridge the sudden distance between them. Then Lia murm

the words another tim

there was

n, painting the sky in fading golds and soft purples.

in his pockets, trying to outrun the

en he s

ia

ria

ugh the quiet air. Adrian leaned closer as he spoke, his voice low, familiar. Li

e close.

s matched. They moved like people wh

topped w

His breath caught, chest tightening as tears blurred his vision. He watch

g inside

s expression could betray him. His heart felt like i

n't cal

't confr

ly walke

, luggage packed, emotions tightly locked away. The engine started,

was quiet

qui

s, the way his gaze stayed fixed on the darkening window. "You'

e distant. "Yeah... j

ver did. "Come on, Jaden. You

, tangled with vulnerability and fear.

ouldn't... and then I saw her with Adrian. Laughing... close

slipped out ra

on his brother's shoulder. "Hey... hey, it'

"It just... hurts. I didn't want to leave like this, but

little bro, you're allowed to feel that. But don't let it consume yo

g a shaky breath. The pain didn't disappear,

h to endure

m under, and he drifted into sleep a

t a goodbye to

idn't

didn't

quietly, his heart shattered,