The school years seemed to slip away as if time itself were in a hurry. Michael and Sarah's bond deepened with each passing day. They shared countless afternoons tucked into the library's quiet corners, walked in the peaceful campus gardens, or spent hours sipping coffee at their favorite little café. For Sarah, Michael brought light into what used to be a life of solitude. She had never felt more at ease with anyone, opening to him in ways she had never done before. Laughter and warmth had filled the spaces that used to be silent.
But lately, Sarah had noticed something unsettling in Michael. His usual playful energy was being swallowed by a quiet tension she could not fully understand. Graduation was looming, and Michael had become more withdrawn. Sarah could feel his mind racing with thoughts he had not shared.
One evening, they met up at their favorite café once again. The soft glow of the evening sun filtered through the windows, but Michael's mind was elsewhere. He sat stirring his coffee absently, barely touching it. Sarah, sensing the shift, finally spoke up.
"Michael," she began gently, "you have been quiet lately. Is something bothering you?"
Michael snapped out of his thoughts, blinking as if he had forgotten she was there. He hesitated before responding, his gaze flickering between her and his untouched coffee. "Yeah... It is just because... graduation is coming up so fast. It's kind of overwhelming to search for jobs."
"Michael, what's going on with you?" Sarah asked, her voice was soft but laced with concern. "You appear to be upset and very distant from me lately. Why? Did I do anything that bothers you"?
Michael glanced up, startled, as if caught off guard. "I have just been thinking a lot," he muttered, eyes darting away. "About our future, you know? Graduation means... finding a job to make a living."
Sarah nodded, trying to understand. "I understand that it's overwhelming, but we have always talked about facing it together. You do not have to go through this alone. I have found an intern job already, and we can support each other."
Michael forced a smile, but inside, the unease gnawed at him. The expectations he carried—his family's, society's, and his own—were crushing. He wanted a future that promised more than just love. He wanted success, financial security, and prestige. And the more he thought about it, the more he wondered if Sarah, sweet and loving as she was, could be part of that vision.
Michael sighed heavily. "I do not know if it's that simple anymore, Sarah."
Sarah's heart skipped. "What do you mean?" She leaned forward, her eyes searching his. "What has changed?"
Michael hesitated, his fingers tightening around his cup. "I've... I've been spending time with Amelia."
There it was. The confession Sarah had been dreading but expecting. Her stomach twisted at the mention of Amelia—a girl from a wealthy family who had appeared in Michael's life recently. Sarah's voice caught in her throat. "Amelia? The girl you mentioned who took you to those business parties?"
"Yeah," Michael admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. "She's introduced me to some opportunities... people who can help me get ahead. She thinks I have potential, and her family can connect me to some important people."
Sarah felt a pang in her chest. "So that's it? You are attracted to her because she can help you with your career?"
Sarah's eyes searched his face, confusion turning into heartbreak. Her voice trembled, barely holding together. "So, you do not anticipate us staying together in the future anymore? Oh, I see. There is no space for me in your plan anymore. I cannot provide you the same shortcut to fame and wealth as Amelia can offer, am I correct? "
Michael did not respond right away. He looked away, unable to meet her gaze. The weight of his silence did more damage than any words could.
"I do not know," he finally admitted, running a hand through his hair. "I sent numerous resumes and did not even get an invitation for an interview. I feel so inadequate to deserve your love."
Michael winced, hating the way his words sounded. "That is not what I meant. I just... I am trying to be honest with myself. I just need time to face reality. I do not want to look back and regret not chasing what I want—what I need."
"And what exactly is it that you want, Michael?" Sarah's tone sharpened, her patience thinning. "Because I thought we wanted the same things."
"I thought so too," he replied quietly. "But lately... I am not so sure. Either you or me or we both forgot our original intention: we both dreamed big."
Sarah's hands trembled as she tried to process what he was saying. She realized Michael might be right. She was so madly in love with Michael that she forgot her desire to accomplish professional success.
Suddenly, she remembered something. "All these were your excuses. Is your change truly because of Amelia?" The name left her lips bitterly.
"Amelia offered to help me land a job in her father's company," Michael said, looking a bit sheepish. He then confessed to Sarah more about his stories with Amelia.
"Amelia always has the coolest ideas," he added with a hint of admiration. "She invited me to these fancy social functions that were eye-openers."
Sarah raised an eyebrow. "Fancy, huh? What is it like?"
Michael shrugged, a small smile creeping onto his face. "At first, I felt a bit out of place. These places are all sleek and upscale, different from what I am used to. But Amelia has this way of making you feel like you belong, you know? Like I was suddenly part of her world."
"That's cool," Sarah replied sarcastically, trying to hide her mixed feelings. "So, you're enjoying it?"
"I have to say that Amelia taught me to think bigger. She thought I would have the potential to be as successful as my father. All I needed was an opportunity that her family could offer. And it was not just her words. She invited me to fancy networking events where everyone talked about future internships, business plans, and their big, shiny careers. It was a whole different vibe from what we had before. Amelia showed me a world I had not even known existed—a world where ambition was not just a dream but an expectation."
Michael's heart skipped a beat at the mention of Amelia. He had not intended for it to be like this, but there was no hiding that he had a growing connection with Amelia.
"She's... she's just a friend," Michael said, though the words felt hollow even to himself.
Sarah shook her head, her eyes welling with unshed tears. "No. It is more than that. Look at how many times you mentioned her name. You have been distant ever since you started spending more time with her. You have changed, Michael."
"I have not changed," he said, though even he did not believe it himself. He knew he was such a fake person.
"Yes, you have," Sarah whispered, her voice breaking. "You are not the same person who used to dream about using our efforts to accomplish what we want. Now it is all about effortless success and money and... people like Amelia who can help you get ahead."
Michael clenched his jaw. She was right, but he could not bring himself to admit or confront it. "I'm just trying to figure things out, Sarah."
"And what is your solution? she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Michael had no answer. He had the answer already, but he only did not dare to admit it and face it.
Sarah stood up abruptly, pushing her chair back. "I thought love was enough for us, Michael. We could figure everything out together. But I was wrong. You are a coward. I have heard too many "I do not know. I am not sure." from you. You just do not want to admit the truth!"
"Sarah, wait—" Michael started to reach for her, but she pulled away.
"No," she said with a firm voice. "You've made your choice, what a hypocrite!"
She turned and walked out of the café, leaving Michael alone with his thoughts and the weight of a future that now seemed colder, emptier without her.