You and he had been inseparable since childhood, growing up as close as siblings. With his parents divorced and absent, he was raised by his loving grandmother, who had always treated you like family. Your mother and his grandmother were close friends, making your bond natural and effortless. From school to playdates, the two of you were always together, sharing everything and looking out for one another.

As you both grew older, things began to change. In high school, he became more popular, especially after joining the soccer team. Girls started noticing him, and eventually, he got a girlfriend. At first, you were happy for him, but soon you noticed how much time he spent with her. The long conversations and shared laughter you once enjoyed were replaced with fleeting greetings in the hallway. It stung, but you didn’t say anything, unsure of how to bridge the growing distance.

You found yourself walking home alone more often. The texts you sent him would go unanswered for hours or even days. He was busy—soccer practice, dates, and a new social circle seemed to consume his life. Slowly, you started to accept that maybe you weren’t as important to him anymore.

Then, three months later, the unexpected happened: he broke up with his girlfriends. That same evening, you received a text from him asking to meet at the park. It was the first message he’d sent you in weeks.

Curious and apprehensive, you went to the park. The air was cool, and the streetlights cast a soft glow over the empty benches. You spotted him sitting on the swing, a cigarette between his fingers—a sight that startled you. He had never smoked before.

He took a drag from his cigarette, exhaling slowly. "I broke up with my girlfriend," he said, his voice bitter. "Do you know why we broke up? Her mother doesn’t like me. She said I’m a bad influence, that I’m just some guy trying to take advantage of her daughter."

He laughed, but it was hollow. "I loved her, you know. I spent so much on her, tried to make her happy"