Chapter 16
The Things That Stay in the Rain
The sky had been heavy all day.
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Clouds gathering.
Wind shifting.
Air thick with something waiting to fall.
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By the time the last bell rang—
It did.
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Rain.
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Sudden.
Relentless.
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Students rushed out of classrooms.
Laughter.
Shouting.
Running through the corridors to avoid getting drenched.
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Bela stood by the window.
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Watching.
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The raindrops hit the ground hard.
Fast.
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Blurring everything outside.
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"…You're not leaving?"
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She didn't turn.
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"…I will."
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A pause.
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"…After it slows down."
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Silence.
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But the rain didn't slow.
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If anything—
It got heavier.
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Most students had already left.
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The school felt emptier now.
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Quieter.
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Bela finally stepped out into the corridor.
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The sound of rain echoed through the space.
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Loud.
Constant.
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She walked slowly toward the exit.
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But when she reached the gate—
She stopped.
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Because the rain wasn't something you could just walk through.
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It was pouring.
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Cold.
Sharp.
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She hesitated.
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Just for a moment.
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Then—
She stepped forward.
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The rain hit her instantly.
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Soaking through her clothes.
Her hair.
Her skin.
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Cold.
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Too cold.
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But she kept walking.
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Because stopping—
Would mean going back.
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And she didn't want to go back.
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"Bela."
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She froze.
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Her breath caught slightly.
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Then—
Slowly—
She turned.
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Vihaan stood a few steps behind her.
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Under the shade.
Dry.
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Watching her.
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"…What are you doing?" he asked.
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"Going home."
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"In this?"
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"Yes."
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A pause.
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"…You'll get sick."
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A small, almost ironic smile touched her lips.
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"I already am."
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The words slipped out.
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Too easily.
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Too naturally.
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Silence fell.
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Heavy.
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Because this time—
He didn't brush it off.
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Didn't ignore it.
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"…What does that mean?"
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His voice was quieter now.
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More serious.
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Bela looked at him.
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For a moment—
She considered it.
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Telling him.
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Everything.
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But—
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She looked away.
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"…It means I don't like waiting."
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A lie.
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Again.
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But weaker this time.
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Vihaan stepped forward.
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Into the rain.
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Without hesitation.
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Water soaked through his clothes instantly.
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But he didn't stop.
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He stood in front of her now.
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Close.
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Closer than before.
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"…You don't have to do this."
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"Do what?"
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"Act like nothing affects you."
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Bela let out a quiet breath.
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"…It's easier."
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"For who?"
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She didn't answer.
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Because the answer—
Was obvious.
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The rain poured harder.
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Cold drops running down her face.
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Mixing with something else—
She didn't want to name.
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"…You're shaking."
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She froze slightly.
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"…I'm fine."
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"You're not."
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A pause.
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And then—
Without asking—
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He took off his jacket.
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And placed it over her shoulders.
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Warm.
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Even in the rain.
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Bela blinked.
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"…You'll get cold."
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"I already am."
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Her words.
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Returned.
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For a second—
Neither of them moved.
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The world around them—
Blurry.
Distant.
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Just rain.
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Just silence.
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Just—
Them.
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"…Why do you care so much?" she asked softly.
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Not defensive this time.
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Just—
Curious.
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Real.
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Vihaan didn't look away.
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"…I told you."
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"That's not an answer."
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A pause.
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This time—
Longer.
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More uncertain.
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"…I don't know how not to."
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That—
That wasn't something she expected.
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Because it wasn't confident.
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It wasn't controlled.
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It was—
Honest.
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And that made her chest tighten.
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Bela looked down.
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Because holding his gaze—
Was getting harder.
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"…You shouldn't," she whispered.
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"I will."
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Immediate.
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Firm.
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She let out a shaky breath.
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"…You don't understand."
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"Then make me."
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"I can't."
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"Why?"
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Because I don't have time.
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The truth sat right there.
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On her lips.
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In her chest.
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In every breath she struggled to take.
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"…Because if I do," she said instead, her voice barely steady, "things will change."
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A pause.
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"…They already have."
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That—
That broke something inside her.
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Because he was right.
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They had.
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And she was the one trying to pretend they hadn't.
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The rain slowed slightly.
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Not enough to stop.
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But enough to soften.
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Bela looked up at him.
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Really looked.
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At the way his hair clung to his forehead.
The way his eyes stayed on her—
Steady.
Unmoving.
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Like he was waiting.
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Not for an answer.
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But for her.
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"…What if I can't stay?" she asked quietly.
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The question slipped out before she could stop it.
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Too real.
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Too close.
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Vihaan frowned slightly.
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"…What do you mean?"
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Bela shook her head quickly.
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"…Nothing."
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But it was too late.
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Because now—
He had heard it.
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Felt it.
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Understood that there was something more.
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He stepped closer.
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Just slightly.
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"…Then stay as long as you can."
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Simple.
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But not simple at all.
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Bela's eyes widened slightly.
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Because those words—
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They weren't asking for forever.
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They weren't demanding anything.
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They were accepting—
Whatever time she had.
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Even without knowing it.
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And that—
That hurt more than anything else.
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Her fingers curled slightly against the jacket.
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"…You make it sound easy."
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"It isn't."
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A pause.
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"…But neither is walking away."
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Silence.
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Because now—
There was no right choice.
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Only two painful ones.
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The rain slowed even more.
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The sky lightening slightly.
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Bela took a step back.
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Then another.
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"…You should go," she said softly.
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"What about you?"
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"I'll come."
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A lie.
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Again.
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But this time—
He didn't argue.
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Because something in her eyes—
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Told him—
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If he pushed any further—
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She might break.
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So he stepped back.
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Just enough.
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But he didn't leave.
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Not yet.
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And for a moment—
They just stood there.
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In the rain.
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In the silence.
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In something neither of them fully understood—
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But neither of them wanted to end.
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Because some moments—
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Don't need answers.
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They just need to be felt.
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And this—
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Was one of them.