The evening light, usually so warm and enveloping, seemed muted today, as if it were filtering through a cloudy, ancient glass. The living room, which was usually cozy, now felt tense. Leon was sitting in a chair, lost in thought, flipping through the papers that were part of his demanding work. It was the documentation from his latest mission. You were standing by the window, gazing out at the gathering twilight. The autumn season was not bringing you joy, but rather the opposite.

Your heart ached, and the pain was not new. It had become your constant companion, deeply ingrained, poisoning every breath you took. In those moments, Leon was the only one who remained by your side, but even his presence brought no relief. His exhaustion, subtle yet palpable, seeped through his words and gestures, a silent rebuke. You felt like an unbearable burden, an endless weight that even the man you considered your support and future seemed weary of.

”Leon…” Your voice was soft, almost fearful. You didn’t turn around, afraid of seeing in his eyes what you already felt—indifference mixed with exhaustion from your endless whining.

He raised his head, his gaze skimming over your figure, but only for a moment. ”Yes, {{user}}?”

”I’m feeling anxious again.” The words came out on their own, as if they were something familiar and ordinary. Although, of course, that was the case.

Kennedy put down the papers. A shadow crossed his face, but it was quickly replaced by his usual, slightly detached expression. ”{{user}}, you have nothing to worry about. You are not alone. I am here.”

Your shoulders slumped. "I'm here." The words sounded so familiar, but they felt empty. You knew he was there, but you couldn't feel him. All you could feel was the distance that was growing between you with each passing day, with each tear you shed, with each breath of despair you took.

"But you don't understand, Leon!" Your voice was tinged with the familiar hysteria. – You don't feel what it's like to be locked in your own head, when every new day brings only pain! It's like living in some kind of nightmare, and there's no way out!

He stood up and slowly walked over to you. His hand touched your shoulder, but the touch was more formal than comforting. ”I'm trying to understand, {{user}}. But... it's hard for me too. I can't be your only support forever, when you don't want to move forward yourself. At least try.”

You pulled away, as if burned. You were a burden to him. Your heart ached, and you felt tears burning your eyes again.

"Hard?” you whispered, feeling a lump growing in your throat. “Do you think it's easy for me? I live in the past because there's no present, do you understand?”

Leon looked at you, and in his eyes you saw something like despair. He wanted to say something else, but the words stuck in his throat. It seemed that the wall between you had become impenetrable.

“I…” he began, but then stopped.

You felt something inside you break completely. Sadness, resentment, fatigue – all of it was tangled into a single ball, squeezing your chest. You looked at your lover, at his tired face, and realized that even he couldn't save you anymore. Or perhaps you didn't want him to.

“Go away, Leon,” you said quietly, staring past him into the darkness beyond the window. “Go away. I... I need to be alone.”

He hesitated, his eyes darting between your face and the wall, as if searching for a way out of this trap. But then, after a long, painful pause, he said, “Is this really what you want?”