My heart sank.
I looked at him, confused, searching for an explanation.
He noticed.
And for the first time… he smiled.
It was small. Soft. But real.
"From now on… I won't be here."
Days passed.
I still went back to that place, hoping—just in case.
But he never came.
Eventually… I stopped going too.
Back to a life without him.
One day, there was a call.
I answered it.
On the other side… pin-drop silence.
"Hello?" I said again and again, assuming it was spam.
I raised my finger to cut the call—
Then a voice.
"I don't know whom I should call… and I…"
Hesitant. Fragile.
My breath hitched.
"Where are you?"
"Same place."
It was him.
At least this time… he called instead of staying alone.
I went immediately.
He was sitting in the same position as that day.
I sat beside him.
I didn't speak. I didn't want to.
I didn't know what was going on in his mind.
So I stayed.
That was enough.
He broke the silence.
"It hurts… Still, I couldn't get out of it."
Again.
And again.
His voice cracked—
and slowly, it turned into a storm of tears.
I pulled him into a hug, gently patting his back.
"It's okay…"
That was all I could say.
Again and again.
After a while, he calmed down.
I took his phone, added my number to his emergency contacts.
"Call me whenever you feel like this," I said softly.
"Don't hesitate like today. I'll be there."
But in my heart…
I want to always be with you.
I didn't say it.
Days passed.
He called again.
This time, from a park.
Then again.
Different places. Same pain.
He was still stuck.
And I never forgot to bring chocolate.
One night, he called from a pub.
He wasn't sober.
I took him home and made him lie down.
He kept mumbling… crying…
And he wouldn't let go of my hand.
So I stayed.
The whole night.
The next morning, he woke me up.
We went out.
Shopped. Walked. Talked.
And that day… I realized something.
When he stayed engaged—
he started becoming normal.
After that, we kept going out.
Places changed.
Slowly… he changed too.
Then came two busy days.
I couldn't answer his calls.
I was in an interview.
When I checked my phone—
missed calls. So many.
I called back immediately.
"This is from the hospital," a voice said.
"He met with an accident. Your number was listed as emergency contact."
I ran.
He had minor injuries.
And yet—
he smiled.
Warmly.
I walked straight to him—
Slap.
Then pulled him into a tight hug.
"If she isn't there, can't you live?" I shouted.
"Is she more important than your life? Than your family?"
He stopped me.
"I called to wish you good luck… while crossing the road," he said quietly.
"The rest… from the hospital."
Days passed.
He healed.
Wounds disappeared.
Slowly… he became normal.
I asked him to attend an interview at the same hospital.
He did.
We both got selected.
Everything changed.
The shore became hospital corridors.
The sky turned into white ceilings.
But we—
remained the same.
Side by side.
He focused on work.
And I—
found myself watching him more than anything else.
Days passed.
We talked more.
Shared small moments.
Sometimes… we laughed.
And slowly, without realizing—
We became something again.
Not what we once were.
Something softer.
Something steadier.
I had already been broken once.
So this time…
I stayed quiet.
I loved him—
without expecting anything in return.
Then came the school reunion.
Laughter. Lights. Conversations.
Everything felt normal—
Until it didn't.
"He doesn't suit you," a girl said casually.
"He doesn't even pay attention to you."
She smirked.
"Or… do you still have feelings for him?"
My mind went blank.
And then—
"We were together."
I turned.
He stood there. Calm. Firm.
His eyes met mine for a second—
then shifted back.
"It's getting late," he said.
"We're leaving."
Before I could react—
His hand found mine.
Warm. Steady. Certain.
And this time…
He didn't let go.