Ben slowly let go.
But his hands didn't leave her shoulders immediately.
As if he wasn't ready to lose that small warmth… that small support.
Luisa felt it.
That lingering hold.
Soft… but heavy.
She gently stepped back.
Creating a little distance.
Not too much—
Just enough to breathe.
Still… she stayed.
Ben looked at her.
His eyes still tired… but calmer than before.
Ben:
"Thank you, Luisa…"
She looked at him.
Her lips parted slightly—
But no words came out.
Because what could she say?
That it's okay?
When it wasn't.
That she understands?
When it was breaking her too.
So she just nodded faintly.
They stood there for a moment.
The silence wasn't empty—
It was filled with everything they didn't say.
Then Ben spoke again.
Slowly.
And this time—
He didn't stop.
He started talking about Charlotte.
About everything.
How they met.
How she used to laugh.
How she would get mad over small things.
How she loved cheese… how she hated rain…
How he imagined his future with her.
Each word—
Soft.
Filled with love.
And memories.
To him—
It felt comforting.
Like holding onto something he had lost.
But to Luisa—
It felt like a knife.
Sharp.
Repeated.
Every sentence cutting deeper than the last.
Yet—
She didn't stop him.
Didn't interrupt.
Didn't walk away.
She just listened.
Standing there—
Smiling faintly sometimes…
Nodding…
Pretending she was okay.
Because right now—
His pain felt louder than hers.
After a while—
The sky grew darker.
Luisa:
"We should go… it's getting late."
Ben nodded.
"Yeah…"
They walked together quietly.
Not much talking now.
Just footsteps.
And silence.
When they reached near her house—
Luisa stopped.
Luisa:
"You should go now…"
Ben looked at her.
As if he didn't want to leave.
But still—
He nodded.
Ben:
"Okay… good night."
Luisa:
"Good night…"
He turned.
Walked away.
And with every step—
That emptiness came back.
Stronger than before.
Later That Night
Ben sat on his couch.
The room felt too quiet.
Too empty.
His mind started replaying everything again—
Charlotte.
Ryan.
That moment.
His chest tightened.
Without thinking—
He picked up his phone.
Called Luisa.
The phone rang.
For a moment—
He thought she wouldn't pick.
But she did.
Luisa:
"…Hello?"
Her voice was soft.
Tired.
Ben felt a small relief.
Ben:
"Hi… were you sleeping?"
Luisa:
"No… just lying down."
There was a small pause.
Ben:
"I… just wanted to talk…"
Luisa closed her eyes for a second.
Her heart felt heavy again.
But she still said—
Luisa:
"Yeah… tell me…"
And again—
He started talking.
About Charlotte.
About memories.
About pain.
About questions with no answers.
And Luisa—
Listened.
Again.
Even when her chest tightened.
Even when her mind screamed—
Stop…
She stayed.
Because hearing him—
Made him feel better.
Even if only a little.
And for Ben—
That little comfort became important.
Necessary.
Like something he needed to hold onto.
The Next Day
After class—
Luisa walked toward the library.
Her steps slower than usual.
Her mind tired.
Her heart heavier.
Luisa (thinking):
I can't keep doing this…
But she didn't know how to stop.
"Luisa."
She stopped.
That voice—
Calm.
Familiar.
She turned.
David.
Standing there.
Looking at her carefully.
David:
"Hey… I've been looking for you."
Luisa forced a small smile.
Luisa:
"Oh… really?"
David stepped closer.
David:
"Are you okay?"
His voice was gentle.
Concerned.
Real.
Different from Ben.
With Ben—
She hid her pain to comfort him.
With David—
She felt seen.
And that scared her.
So she stepped back slightly.
Luisa:
"I'm fine… just tired."
David frowned a little.
He didn't believe it.
David:
"You don't look fine."
Luisa looked away.
Luisa:
"I said I'm okay."
Her voice wasn't rude—
But distant.
A little cold.
David noticed.
And it hurt.
Not deeply—
But enough to feel the change.
David:
"Did something happen?"
Luisa shook her head.
Luisa:
"No."
A lie.
Simple.
Short.
Clear.
David stood there quietly.
He wanted to ask more.
Wanted to understand.
But something in her expression—
Told him to stop.
So he nodded slowly.
David:
"…Okay."
A small silence fell.
Then Luisa spoke—
Luisa:
"I have to go… I need to study."
David:
"Yeah… sure."
She turned.
And walked away.
Without looking back.
David stood there.
Watching her leave.
David (thinking):
Why does it feel like she's going away from me…?
Something felt wrong.
He didn't know what—
But he could feel it.
The distance.
Growing.
Slowly.
At the Library
Luisa sat at the corner table.
Books open.
Pen in hand.
But her mind—
Wasn't there.
It was somewhere else.
With his voice.
His pain.
His memories.
Luisa (thinking):
Why am I doing this…?
Her chest tightened.
Luisa (thinking):
I'm helping him… but…
A pause.
Her fingers gripped the pen tighter.
Luisa (thinking):
…this still hurts me but i can't leave him like that hurt and broken.?
Silence.
Heavy.
And slowly—
Without realizing—
Luisa was losing herself.
Trying to heal someone else.
While her own heart—
Stayed unheard.
Unseen.
And quietly—
Breaking.