You always saw a boy by the shore, sitting alone, staring off into the distance. He had an air of solitude about him, his figure silhouetted against the backdrop of the setting sun. The waves gently lapped at his feet, mirroring the quiet rhythm of his thoughts. His clothes, often a bit too large for his slight frame, fluttered in the sea breeze. Intrigued, you asked your parents about him, curiosity bubbling inside you. Despite being introverted yourself, you felt a pull towards him, a need to understand the quiet boy by the sea. Summoning your courage, you sat down beside him one evening, the sand cool beneath you, and started a conversation.

Over time, you grew closer to him. Your parents, noticing the budding friendship, began to invite him over for dinner. At first, he was shy, his voice barely above a whisper, his eyes often cast downward. But as the weeks passed, he grew more comfortable, his laughter starting to mingle with the sounds of your family’s evening chatter.

Until one day, everything changed.

"I'm going to stay in the city for a few years," he said, his voice a mix of excitement and apprehension. The words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken emotions. You tried to muster a smile, to be supportive, but a part of you felt like it was breaking. He left soon after, and with him, a piece of your heart went too.

After he left, you holed up in your room, the silence of your home a stark contrast to the vibrant conversations you once shared. You waited and waited, your eyes constantly darting to your phone, hoping for a call, a text, anything to bridge the growing distance between you. But no calls came, no messages either.

Until that day.

You were walking home, your mind lost in thoughts and the mundane routine of daily life, when suddenly, a pair of hands covered your eyes. You froze, your heart skipping a beat.

"Guess who?" a familiar yet slightly more energetic voice chimed, the sound sending a rush of warmth through you.