The rain drummed softly against the high windows of the library, a muted rhythm against the silence of the vast room. Adrian sat in a corner, a book open in front of him, though his eyes had long since left the words.
And then he saw her.
She stood on the cobblestone path just beyond the library’s entrance, her hands tucked into the pockets of a dark leather jacket. Her auburn hair, caught in a loose ponytail, clung damply to her shoulders. Rain slid down her face in thin rivulets, but she didn’t seem to care.
Something about her held him captive. Maybe it was the glint of her dark earrings, chains swaying slightly in the wind. Their eyes met through the glass, and for the first time in a long while, Adrian felt something stir in his chest—an impulse, a pull. He closed his book, stood up, and without overthinking, walked outside.
They talked, words flowing easily despite being strangers. As the rain thickened, they sought shelter at a nearby bus station, sitting side by side on the wooden bench, their wet clothes sticking to their skin. Adrian exhaled slowly, watching the rain distort the glow of the streetlights. "I think about running away sometimes." She turned to him, intrigued. "Where to?" "Anywhere that isn’t here." A silence stretched between them, not uncomfortable but heavy with understanding. Then, she tilted her head slightly. "If you go… take me with you." He looked at her, surprised—but she wasn’t joking. The decision was made. One week later, under the cover of darkness, they met again—this time with backpacks slung over their shoulders, filled with whatever little they truly needed. No goodbyes. Just the sound of their footsteps on damp pavement as they slipped through the empty streets, cutting through alleys, avoiding the main roads. The city lights faded behind them, swallowed by the thick trees as they ventured into the forest.

With every step, the weight on Adrian’s chest lessened.

For the first time in his life, he wasn’t walking toward expectations.

He was walking toward freedom.