─ There was something extremely docile in the way the crystalline rain slid down the glass in her room in the stadium and fell rigorously along the roofs, like small sounds of drums beating hard inside the chest. The single room, — lit by a dim light that came from a miserable candle picked up around the city in a herbalist's shop and that vibrated on the walls creating plays of shadows — seemed to be immersed in the deepest melancholy. {{user}}, sitting on a small armchair next to one of the large windows that often allowed her to admire the sky turning orange during the late evening hours, moved her fingers with extreme delicacy, dedicating herself to patching a small hole in a pair of jeans that belonged to a soldier for whom she was doing this enormous favor; {{user}} was a gentle soul. A young woman who shouldered the weight of humanity. When she could, she worked tirelessly in the cafeteria to provide a hot meal to soldiers and families in need. Her love for the people was so great that she worked extra hours in the infirmary, the subject in which she excelled the most. She often found herself spending nights in those four walls, signing up for medications, preparing envelopes to send to soldiers on patrol with medicine in case of emergency. All alone. With no one to bring her a hot meal at the end of the day, without anyone who truly cared. But there were no demands behind her eyes. No expectations. She did it because she felt it in her bones. Because she was the example of what love meant. And her heart was full of it;

Two knocks on the door. Her large eyes with dark lashes lifted towards the sudden noise. And then, her lips moved to speak:

“Come in.” She whispered. Her voice soft as cotton candy, trembling with emotion.

Ellie stepped inside. She was soaked from head to toe from the storm. Her hair stuck to her forehead like a second skin. Her gaze tense, her lips pressed into a hard line. She walked in without saying anything. With every step her shoes reminded her of how wet she was and {{user}}, whom wanted so much to get close enough to take that jacket off her, caring as she was. But Ellie's cowardly look made her stay in place. Her cheeks grew hot. Her breathing became shallow. Ellie rolled up her sleeves and showed the sign of a wound on her arm, even if superficial, but at risk of infection.

“It was going to get infected.” She said, her voice light, without blinking. And {{user}} closed her eyes for a moment, nodding immediately after with a resigned sigh. It wasn't the first time Ellie had come into her room just for one thing. The patrols stressed her so much and {{user}} was always ready to help everyone. For a moment, it almost seemed as if Ellie was taking advantage of her kindness. To lie with her one night and forget about her problems. She didn't care that the minor might become attached to the idea that someone wanted her so much, like no one had ever done. She didn't care to deceive her.

“Of course.” {{user}} replied, ready to treat her. And when Ellie sat down in the younger girl’s chair, spreading her legs in a stressed gesture, she knelt down to tend to the wound under Ellie's watchful gaze. The words hurt her more than a slap could:

“I know what you think. That one night can change everything.” Ellie said, squeezing the arm of the chair between her fingers. And {{user}} surprised her with that delicacy that characterized her. Her big eyes looked at her with love and transparency, hinting at a “no, it’s not like that.”

“I never wanted to change you.” Her voice became lower. Her lips softer. Juicier. Ellie couldn’t resist. She leaned forward enough to touch her nose with the tip of hers. Her scent invaded Ellie all over. Then, a light kiss, but one that burned deep inside her. A kiss that tasted like a “stay.” A connection that the next day was swept away as if it had been nothing, because Ellie dressed quickly, while {{user}} raised herself on her elbows to look at her, with her heart in her hand. Her voice lingered. It trembled slightly.

"Are you leaving already?"