Luisa sat on the floor of her room, her legs folded tightly against her chest, her arms wrapped around them.
The room was quiet.
Too quiet.
Luisa (whispering): "I was so stupid…"
Her voice was barely audible, as if even speaking the words made the pain more real.
Her eyes stared at nothing, but her mind kept replaying everything—
His voice.
His pain.
Her name.
Charlotte.
Ben
On the other side of the city,
Ben entered his apartment—completely drenched from the rain.
He dropped his keys and phone onto the table, not even bothering to turn on the lights immediately.
For a moment, he just stood there.
Still.
Empty.
The silence of the room felt louder than anything.
Slowly, he ran his hand through his wet hair and walked to his room.
After changing into dry clothes, he sat on the couch.
The apartment felt… different.
Cold.
Lonely.
Because something was missing.
Someone.
There was no Charlotte anymore—
No one to call him and ask, "Did you eat?"
No one to say, "Are you okay?"
No one to laugh with… to dream with… to love.
The girl he had imagined a future with—
Gone.
Ben leaned back, staring at the ceiling.
Then, almost unconsciously, he picked up his phone.
Opened his gallery.
And started scrolling.
Photos of them.
Smiling. Laughing. Living.
His fingers stopped on one picture.
And suddenly—
Flashback – 3 Years Ago (Aves)
A bright afternoon.
The school garden was filled with soft sunlight, the leaves swaying gently in the warm breeze.
Ben sat alone on a bench, quiet and distant.
This was shortly after his parents' divorce.
He didn't talk to anyone.
Didn't want to.
Didn't care.
Then—
A girl walked toward him.
Shoulder-length straight hair, soft eyes, a gentle smile.
Charlotte.
She sat beside him without hesitation.
Charlotte: "Hi… my name is Charlotte. Nice to meet you."
Ben glanced at her briefly but said nothing.
Charlotte tilted her head slightly, still smiling.
Charlotte: "What's your name?"
Ben hesitated… then quietly replied—
Ben: "Ben."
Charlotte: "Oh! Nice. You're new here, right? Where are you from?"
Ben looked away.
Ben: "Himmer."
Charlotte's eyes lit up.
Charlotte: "Wow, that's a big city! It looks really beautiful—I've seen pictures online."
For the first time—
Ben looked at her properly.
And for some reason…
He didn't feel as alone anymore.
Present
Ben blinked.
The memory faded.
The screen in front of him felt heavy in his hands.
He locked his phone and let his arm fall to his side.
Then slowly…
He leaned his head back.
A single tear slipped from the corner of his eye, tracing down his cheek.
Luisa
Back in her apartment,
Luisa had just finished getting fresh.
But the heaviness in her chest hadn't gone away.
It felt like something was pressing down on her heart.
Something she couldn't escape.
Just then—
Her phone rang.
David.
She stared at the screen for a moment, then picked up, forcing her voice to sound normal.
Luisa: "Hello…"
David: "Hey… are you home?"
Luisa: "Yes… I am. How are you?"
Her voice was low, slightly tired.
David immediately noticed.
David: "Are you okay, Luisa? You sound tired."
Luisa straightened slightly, trying to sound better.
She didn't want to burden him.
Not when he was already going through so much.
Luisa: "No, no… I'm fine. Just a little tired. How are you?"
David: "I'm okay… just handling things here."
There was a pause.
David: "Take care of yourself, okay?"
Luisa smiled faintly.
Luisa: "You too. Bye."
David: "Bye."
The call ended.
Luisa placed her phone on the table and slowly walked to her bed.
She lay down, staring at the ceiling.
But sleep didn't come.
Only thoughts.
Only him.
Next Morning
The sunlight filtered softly into her room.
Luisa opened her eyes slowly.
Her body felt heavy.
Her heart felt heavier.
But still—
She got up.
Got ready.
And left for university.
At the bus stop, she stood quietly, holding her bag close.
Her mind was clearer now.
Not empty.
But decided.
Luisa (thinking):
From today… I'll stay away from Ben.
I can't love someone… who is already in love with someone else.
I have to stop this.
I have to…
She took a deep breath.
The wind brushed against her face.
And for the first time—
She chose distance.
Even if it hurt.