Silence settled over Aria's room once again.
Neither of them spoke.The rain continued tapping softly against the windows, filling the room with a quiet rhythm that somehow made the distance between them feel even heavier.
Rafael stood only a few steps away.Aria lowered her eyes, unable to meet his gaze for long.She hated lying to him more than anything.
Yet she continued doing it every single day.
Finally, Rafael broke the silence.
"I'm leaving tomorrow."
Aria nodded slowly.
"I know."
"For the first time..."
He let out a small, helpless laugh.
"...I'll be away from you since the accident."
She forced herself to smile.
"It's only a few days."
"It shouldn't matter."
"It matters to me."
His quiet answer made her heart ache.
Rafael took another step toward her.
"I'm trying so hard to understand what's happening between us."
"I don't know what you're hiding."
"I don't know why things suddenly changed."
His eyes searched hers.
"But I do know one thing."
