The night hung heavy over the city.
Streetlamps cast pale circles of light on the wet asphalt. The rain had stopped an hour ago, but its scent still lingered in the air - metallic, cold, full of things that had remained unspoken.
In her room, it was quiet. Too quiet.
Only the soft ticking of the wall clock cut through the darkness.
She lay awake, blanket pulled up to her chin, thoughts circling, never finding rest.
Vanessa's posts. Vanessa's laughter. His silence.
Always the same endless loop, crushing her heart.
She reached for the phone on her nightstand.
The display flickered to life - harsh, white light in the darkness.
Nothing from him. No name, no message, no sign.
Just new screenshots from friends: Vanessa's profile, Vanessa's smile, Vanessa's hashtags.
"Dream Couple 2025 💋", "My Favorite Person ❤️".
The words burned in her eyes as if they'd been carved into her skin.
She locked the phone and put it away as if it were glowing hot.
