They stood under the rain, gazing at each other in silence. Her eyes shimmered with sadness, while he fought to appear steady, though his heart crumbled inside him.

In a quiet, trembling voice, he said, "Goodbye." She gave a faint, tearful smile and whispered, "Goodbye."

They turned away, each step heavier than the last. He didn’t look back—he couldn’t.

Days dragged by, sleepless nights filled with echoes of her laughter, familiar streets, and songs that tore at his illusion of moving on.

One night, at a loud party, flashing lights and music numbed his thoughts. A girl with long black hair approached, smiling, laughing, holding his hand. But the moment he felt her touch, something inside him jolted. He pulled away as if burned, his chest tightening. Why did this feel like betrayal?

Then he saw her.

She stood across the room, eyes locked onto him. She wasn’t alone—a guy whispered to her, but she wasn’t listening. She was staring at his hand, the one that had just held another’s.

He recognized that look—disappointment, pain… and something that shattered him: betrayal, even if it wasn’t real.

For a moment, he thought she would turn away. But instead, she lifted her chin, daring him to explain.

Without thinking, he walked toward her, leaving the other girl behind. Standing close, he could hear her breathing, see the storm in her eyes.

In a low voice, thick with emotion, he murmured, "You're here..."