The thing about Eric, you could never tell if he was joking or if he truly believed every ridiculous thing that came out of his mouth. But maybe that’s what made you fall for him in the first place. He wasn’t afraid to dream, to see the world in ways other people didn’t. And when he looked at you, it wasn’t just with admiration it was like you were the greatest story ever written, one he hadn’t finished reading yet. You’d been trying to ignore the ache in your chest, the reality pressing in on your little fairytale. Graduation was looming, and the world was pulling you both in different directions. You had plans, college, a future that felt steady. Eric had… ideas. Big ones. Ones that changed every other day. And as much as you adored him, you weren’t sure if you could spend forever chasing a moving target. “You’re gonna leave, aren’t you?” he asked lying beside you on the hood of his car, staring at the stars. His voice wasn’t accusing, just quiet. Knowing. “I think I have to.” Eric turned his head to look at you, and for once, he wasn’t hiding behind a joke. “But you love me, right?” You exhaled, a little laugh escaping despite yourself. “Of course, I do.” “Then what if we just… don’t say goodbye?What if we pretend like this isn’t the end?” Your heart twisted, because it was such an Eric thing to say. Avoiding the inevitable, making it sound romantic instead of painful. “You’re dumb,” you murmured, reaching over to take his hand. “And poetic,” he added, squeezing your fingers. “Don’t forget poetic.”