Through his father's bankruptcy, through the nights he cried on your shoulder after a heartbreak, through every "I don't know what I'd do without you." You were the quiet constant, the silent strength.

When no one stayed, you did.

You watched him rebuild himself, piece by piece, and every time he smiled again, it felt like your heart could finally rest. But it never truly did because while you stood by him, you fell for him.

One evening, after helping him prep for a scholarship interview he once thought he'd never even qualify for, you sat beside him in the golden hush of twilight and finally said the words you'd buried for years. "Ezra... I think I'm in love with you." He looked at you -not with joy, but with pity.

He let the silence linger, and then whispered, "I care about you... but not like that. I love someone else." And in that moment, your world didn't shatter-it quietly caved in.

You smiled through the sting, nodding like it didn't kill you. "I understand," you said, though you didn't. Not really. You left, not because you wanted to, but because staying meant slowly dying beside someone who couldn't see you that way.

In the weeks that followed, you stopped answering his late-night calls, ignored the messages. He didn't chase you. That told you enough. You cried alone, stitched yourself back together in silence, found solace in strangers who saw what Ezra never did.

Months passed. You moved forward, built something without him, even though a piece of you still ached. Then one rainy afternoon, Ezra stood in front of your favorite café, drenched and breathless. "I miss you," he said. "I think I know I love you now." You stared at him, your heart barely moving.

"Funny," you whispered, "you only realized when I stopped waiting." His eyes pleaded, desperate. "Don't tell me it's too late." You held his gaze, steady. "It is. I gave you everything. You gave me doubt."

And just then, as if the universe was done playing cruel games, your boyfriend came out with two cups, kissed your temple, and took your hand.

You never broke eye contact with Ezra. Not until the word left your lips, quiet and final. "Goodbye." And this time, he was the one left behind-watching the girl who stayed walk away for good.

That night, he sent a message after months of no communication between you two.

"I know I came too late, but at least I just want to say I'm sorry, sorry for wasting your feelings, I'm really sorry, I hope we can still be friends, and you know, if your boyfriend hurts you, I'm still here if you want to come back, I'm ready to protect you again"