The room was too quiet.
Aria lay down on her bed, her fingers loosely holding her phone. The events of the night clung to her like the faint scent of rain—impossible to ignore, impossible to shake off.
Her mind refused to settle.
Every time she tried to think of something else… she saw him.
Rafael.
The way his voice dropped when he said her name.
The way his eyes held hers just a second too long.
The way her heart had betrayed her… without permission.
She exhaled slowly, pressing her fingers to her temples.
Stop.
This wasn't her life.
He wasn't her life.
Her phone lit up.
She glanced down.
Lucas.
Missed calls.
Messages stacked one after another.
"Did you reach home?"
"You're not replying… I'm worried."
"Aria?"
Her expression softened immediately.
That familiar warmth… the kind that came without confusion, without fear.
Without chaos.
She opened the messages slowly.
"I'm here for you."
Her chest tightened.
Her eyes closed.
And just like that—
The past pulled her under.
Rain.
Loud. Blinding. Endless.
A sharp screech.
A crash that split the world apart.
Then—
Nothing.
When Aria opened her eyes again, everything was white.
Too white.
The ceiling lights burned her vision. Her body felt heavy, like it didn't belong to her anymore. A dull ache spread through her chest, her arms, her head—everywhere.
A slow, uneven beeping sound echoed beside her.
She blinked.
Once.
Twice.
A hospital.
Her lips parted, but no sound came out.
Then—
A voice.
"Aria…?"
Soft.
Careful.
She turned her head slightly, the movement slow and painful.
And there he was.
Lucas.
Sitting beside her bed.
His hand wrapped tightly around hers, like he was afraid she might disappear.
"You're awake," he whispered, relief flooding his face.
Her throat burned as she tried to speak.
"My… parents…?"
The words came out broken.
Fragile.
Lucas froze.
Just for a moment.
A hesitation so small she barely noticed.
Then his expression softened, his grip tightening.
"They…" he paused, as if choosing his words carefully.
"They didn't make it."
The world stopped.
No.
No, that couldn't—
Her breath hitched, and tears filled her eyes instantly.
"No…" she whispered, her voice trembling.
Lucas leaned forward immediately, wrapping his arms around her as carefully as he could.
"I'm here," he murmured against her hair. "You're not alone."
And in that moment—
Broken.
Lost.
Drowning in grief—
Aria held onto him like he was the only thing keeping her from falling apart.
Days turned into weeks.
And Lucas never left.
He was there every morning when she woke up.
Every night when sleep refused to come.
He fed her when she couldn't bring herself to eat.
Spoke to doctors.
Argued with nurses.
Sat silently beside her when words weren't enough.
And every time she broke down—
Every time the pain became too much—
He was there.
Always there.
"You don't have anyone else now… but you have me."
Those words became her anchor.
Her truth.
Her reason to keep going.
And slowly…
Without even realizing it—
She gave him everything.
Her trust.
Her dependence.
Her heart.
Because in her mind—
He wasn't just someone who stayed.
He was the one who saved her.
Aria opened her eyes.
The memory faded, but the feeling remained.
A tear slipped down her cheek.
"He saved me…" she whispered to herself.
That truth had never been questioned.
Not once.
Her phone rang.
She looked down.
Lucas.
She hesitated only a second before answering.
"Hello?"
"Aria," his voice came instantly, laced with concern. "Are you okay? You weren't replying."
Her voice softened without her realizing it.
"I'm fine… I just got home."
"You sound tired," he said gently. "Did something happen?"
Her grip tightened slightly.
Rafael's face flashed in her mind.
"No," she replied quietly. "Just a long day."
There was a pause.
"I was worried," Lucas said. "You know I don't like it when you disappear like that."
Guilt crept in.
"I'm sorry."
"It's okay," he said softly. "Just… take care of yourself, alright? I can't lose you too."
Her heart softened again.
"Hmm," she murmured.
Silence lingered between them.
Then—
"Aria…"
"Yes?"
"I might need a little help."
She straightened slightly.
"What kind of help?"
"It's nothing serious," he said quickly. "Just some money. I'll return it soon, I promise."
No hesitation.
No doubt.
"Okay," she said.
Lucas exhaled softly, almost relieved.
"I knew I could count on you."
After the call ended, the room fell silent again.
But it wasn't the same silence.
Aria stood slowly and walked toward the mirror.
Her reflection stared back at her.
Familiar.
And yet… not.
Because for the first time—
She felt divided.
Like two different versions of herself were standing in the same place.
One—
The girl who trusted Lucas.
Who believed in him.
Who owed him everything.
And the other—
The girl who stood in the rain beside Rafael.
Whose heart raced for someone she barely knew.
Whose world had shifted in a single night.
She looked away.
Trying to steady herself.
Trying to hold onto what made sense.
What was safe.
What she already had.