Days passed.
Not many.
But enough to feel like something had ended.
Amara adjusted quickly.
At least… that's what it looked like on the outside.
She went to class.
Took notes.
Spoke when necessary.
Kept to herself.
Just like before.
But there was one difference.
She stopped looking for him.
No more quiet glances at the door.
No more noticing empty seats.
No more wondering.
Because she already had her answer.
And somehow…
Accepting it hurt less than questioning it.
Tessa noticed the change.
"You're okay?" she asked one evening.
Amara nodded.
"I'm fine."
And maybe… part of that was true.
Because the pain had changed.
It wasn't sharp anymore.
Just… distant.
Like something that had already happened.
Meanwhile, Kieran had been avoiding everything.
Classes.
People.
Even himself.
He told himself it was easier this way.
That distance would make it better.
That leaving without explanation was the right thing to do.
But nothing about it felt right.
Especially not the silence.
He had expected her to text.
To ask questions.
To demand answers.
But she didn't.
And somehow…
That made it worse.
"She's really letting go," he muttered one afternoon.
And for the first time…
That thought didn't bring relief.
It brought something else.
Fear.
That evening, he saw her again.
She was walking alone, her steps calm, her expression unreadable.
For a moment, he hesitated.
He could walk away.
Pretend he didn't see her.
Just like he had been doing.
But this time…
He didn't.
"Amara."
Her name left his lips before he could stop it.
She paused.
Slowly turning to face him.
And just like that…
They were standing in front of each other again.
After days of silence.
"You've been avoiding me," she said.
Her voice wasn't angry.
Just… honest.
Kieran let out a small breath.
"Yeah."
No excuses.
No lies.
Just the truth.
"Why?" she asked.
That simple question carried so much weight.
Kieran looked at her.
Really looked at her.
And for the first time…
He didn't try to hide.
"I'm leaving."
The words were quiet.
But they felt loud.
Amara blinked slightly.
"Oh."
That was all she said.
No shock.
No dramatic reaction.
Just… acceptance.
And somehow…
That hurt more than anything he expected.
"When?" she asked.
"Soon."
Silence settled between them.
This time…
It felt final.
"You were just going to leave without saying anything?" she asked softly.
Kieran looked away briefly.
"I thought it would be easier."
"For who?"
He didn't answer.
Because they both knew the truth.
It wasn't easier.
Not for him.
Not for her.
"Did any of it mean anything?" Amara asked.
That question hit him harder than anything else.
For a moment…
He couldn't speak.
Because the answer?
It was too real.
Too honest.
Too late.
He closed his eyes briefly.
Then said quietly,
"More than it should have."
Amara swallowed softly.
Her chest tightened.
But she didn't cry.
Didn't break.
Because she had already prepared herself for this.
"Okay," she said.
That one word felt like the end of everything.
Kieran looked at her, something unreadable in his eyes.
He wanted to say more.
Explain.
Apologize.
Ask her to stay.
But he didn't.
Because he knew…
He didn't have the right.
So instead…
He nodded.
And turned to leave.
But just before he walked away—
"Goodbye, Kieran."
Her voice stopped him.
Soft.
Final.
He didn't turn back.
Because if he did…
He might not leave.
And that…
Was something he couldn't allow.