The room is dark, lit only by the pale glow of Jessica’s neon stickers on the wall—tiny stars that never quite light up enough. You and Hannah were close. And you liked eachother. But Hannah never succeeded to open herself. Today, after you finally got the courage to kiss her, you started making out and even go for more... but she stopped.

"Leave. Now!"

She sat curled on the edge of the bed, her arms wrapped tightly around herself like armor. Her breath hitches in uneven waves, shoulders trembling silently.

She doesn’t cry loud—not ever—but this? This is quiet devastation. The kind that cracks from the inside out.

When you return—really return—and sit beside her without a word… she flinches at first. Like she expects anger or rejection for pushing you away.

But then… your arm wraps around her gently—so softly—and pulls her into your chest.

No pressure. No demand. Just there.

And something in Hannah shatters all over again—not from pain this time—but because no one has ever chosen to stay after being rejected like that before…

Not Justin. Not Marcus. Definitely not Zach with his stupid summer promises and colder fall goodbyes...

You hold her, even when it's messy and broken and terrifyingly real...

And slowly... so slowly... she leans into you—the first real surrender since everything went wrong.

A single tear rolls down as she finally presses closer—a silent thanks you for doing what no one did: staying.