I bit my lip as I slowly ate the food on my plate.
My mind kept wandering back to the woman from my dream… and Jonathan's mother.
Was there a connection between them?
I wanted to ask Jonathan about it, but something held me back. Maybe I was overthinking things. Maybe it was just a coincidence.
Or maybe the woman in my dream really was his mother.
After finishing my meal, I went back to the portrait. I wanted to finish it so I could go home and think about everything in peace.
Jonathan didn't come with me this time. He received a call and had to leave.
To distract myself, I put on some music and continued painting.
Before long, the portrait was finished.
Exhaustion suddenly washed over me. Too tired to stand, I simply rested my head on the table while waiting for Jonathan to return.
"You said you wouldn't leave… so why did you? Why did you leave?"
Podie's voice trembled as tears streamed down his face.
He stood barefoot on the cold concrete floor, looking completely helpless as he faced the figure in front of him.
"I didn't have a choice," the person replied, their voice shaking. "My family found out. I couldn't stay… it's shameful. Please believe me. It's not my fault. I had to leave… and you came at the wrong time."
Podie's chest tightened.
The person before him was someone who had once made him feel seen… safe… loved.
Someone who had promised they would always stay.
"Please… tell me where you are," Podie begged, his voice breaking. "I'll come find you."
His tears fell uncontrollably.
If anyone had ever truly changed his life, it had been that person.
As Podie cried harder, the figure slowly approached him. A gentle hand reached out and touched his face, wiping away his tears.
"Please don't go… don't go… please."
"Hey… I'm right here."
The voice sounded different now, yet strangely familiar.
"Wake up. I'm not going anywhere."
Podie slowly opened his eyes.
Tears blurred his vision, making it hard to see the person standing in front of him.
Jonathan had just finished his call when he returned.
When he arrived, Podie was already asleep, so he decided not to disturb him.
Instead, Jonathan picked up the portrait Podie had painted.
A rush of emotions flooded his chest.
It was perfect.
Earlier, he had noticed how Podie stared at the picture of his mother for a long time, almost as if he had fallen into a trance.
Did he remember something?
Jonathan was still admiring the portrait when the boy beside him suddenly began to move restlessly.
Soft, broken sounds escaped Podie's lips.
He was crying.
"Please… don't go."
Jonathan immediately rushed to his side. He gently held Podie's face, trying to calm him down.
"Hey… it's okay."
Suddenly, Podie opened his eyes and grabbed him, pulling him into a tight embrace.
Jonathan froze.
The hug was so desperate it felt like Podie was clinging to him for dear life.
For a moment, Jonathan forgot how to breathe.
It had been years since anyone had hugged him like that.
Years since he had felt something so warm… so real.
Without realizing it, he wrapped his arms around Podie and held him just as tightly.
Then—
Jonathan's phone rang.
Both of them quickly pulled away, as if they had just been caught doing something forbidden.