The sun poured through the tall windows, catching in Aiden's hair as he leaned over the desk. He didn't even notice the way the light kissed him. He never did.He was all focus and silence, flipping through pages like they held the meaning of his entire existence.
I sat across from him, pretending to read my own notes. The words blurred together. All I could really see was him.
"Can you pass me that file?" His voice was calm, neutral the same tone he used for anyone.
I slid the folder over, our fingers brushing for a heartbeat. My chest tightened. I wondered if he felt that spark too. But he didn't even look up.
"You've been working since morning," I said softly, hoping to sound casual. "Maybe take a break?"
"Can't," he replied without hesitation. "Deadlines don't care about breaks."
I smiled small, fake, practiced. "Right. Of course they don't."
Inside, something cracked just a little more.
He didn't notice the way my laughter had faded lately.He didn't notice how much effort it took to sound normal around him.
He never noticed.
Still, I stayed. I told myself that maybe one day he'd look at me differently maybe he'd see more than just the girl who followed him around.
But when he finally looked up, his eyes were sharp with irritation."You don't have to follow me everywhere, Elara."
The words sliced clean through me.I blinked, trying to hide the sting behind a steady breath.
"I wasn't…" I began, but stopped. What was the point? Explaining wouldn't change how he saw me.
So I nodded. "You're right. I don't."
That night, my room felt heavier than usual. The moonlight spilled across my floor, cold and silver. I sat by the window, knees drawn up, watching the city flicker beneath me alive, while I felt hollow.
I'd spent so long waiting for Aiden to see me.But maybe he never would.
Maybe loving him was something I was meant to do silently like breathing, or breaking.
I whispered into the quiet, "You were right, Aiden. I don't have to follow you."
The words trembled, but they were true.Tomorrow, I'd stop waiting. Tomorrow, I'd learn to stand still, even if it meant he'd keep walking away.
And for the first time in a long while, I let myself cry not because of him, but because I was finally letting go.