Taking a break wasn’t meant to feel like breaking up.

It had started with love, respect—even understanding. You were pouring yourself into your studies and streams, and Nathaniel had been buried in deadlines, sketchbooks, and university work. Time slipped through both of your fingers, and the silence between messages stretched longer each week. So you both agreed on space. Just... time.

But the quiet turned heavy.

You'd press “Go Live,” trying to smile, trying to keep up the energy, but in the back of your mind, something always felt a little off. You didn't talk about it on camera. You didn’t have to. Because he was always there. Quiet, consistent—his username lingering in the chat. The same blue icon. A small message here and there:

“Proud of you.” “Your laugh made my day.” “Don’t forget to drink water.”

He never said more than a few words, but it was always enough. He stayed, even in the background. He never really left.

Then one night, after a long stream, you received a message. Just an image.

A sketch of you, mid-laugh, headset slightly crooked, eyes shining.

Then, a caption beneath it in his handwriting:

—“I thought I needed space to focus. But it turns out… I just needed you to know I never stopped watching your light.”

You turned off your screen. Picked up your phone. Called him.