The rain hadn't stopped.
If anything, it had grown heavier—like the sky itself refused to let the night end.
Daniel walked without direction.
No umbrella.
No destination.
No reason to stop.
"Daniel!"
A voice cut through the rain.
Clear.
Familiar.
And urgent.
He stopped.
Not because he wanted to…
But because he recognized that voice.
Slowly, he turned.
Through the curtain of rain, a figure ran toward him.
Her shoes splashed through puddles, her breath uneven, her hair already soaked.
But she didn't stop.
Didn't hesitate.
"Lena…" Daniel muttered quietly.
She finally reached him, slightly out of breath.
"Why didn't you answer your phone?" she asked, her voice trembling—not from the cold, but from worry.
Daniel stared at her for a moment.
Not speaking.
Not reacting.
Just… looking.
Lena Carter.
The one person who always seemed to appear when everything was falling apart.
"I went to your house," she continued.
"They said you left… What happened?"
Silence.
Daniel looked away.
"It's nothing," he said flatly.
"Just go home, Lena."
Her brows furrowed immediately.
"Don't do that."
He frowned slightly. "Do what?"
"Act like it's nothing when it's clearly not nothing."
For a brief second… something cracked.
Not visibly.
Not dramatically.
But enough.
"They replaced me."
The words came out quiet.
Almost swallowed by the rain.
Lena blinked.
"What…?"
"My father," Daniel continued, his voice steady but distant,
"chose someone else."
She stared at him, trying to process it.
"That doesn't make any sense…"
"It doesn't have to."
Another silence fell between them.
But this one felt heavier.
Lena took a step closer.
"Then come with me."
Daniel looked at her.
"What?"
"Come to my place. You can't stay out here like this."
He shook his head immediately.
"No."
"Why not?"
"I don't belong anywhere anymore."
That one line hit harder than anything else.
Lena's expression softened.
Not with pity.
But with something stronger.
"Then stay somewhere you're wanted."
Daniel froze.
"You're wanted," she said firmly.
"Maybe not by them… but that doesn't mean you don't matter."
For the first time that night…
Daniel didn't have a response.
The rain continued to fall around them.
But somehow…
It didn't feel as cold.
"You always do this," Daniel said quietly.
"Do what?"
"Show up."
Lena gave a small, tired smile.
"Someone has to."
A faint breath escaped him.
Not quite a laugh.
But close.
Then, slowly…
He stepped past her.
"I can't stay," he said.
Lena turned quickly. "Daniel—"
"I'll be fine."
"You don't look fine!"
He paused.
But didn't turn around.
"I will be."
And then…
He kept walking.
Lena stood there, watching him disappear into the rain.
Her chest tightened.
Something about that moment felt wrong.
Too final.
"Daniel…" she whispered.
But he didn't stop.
Didn't turn.
Didn't look back.
And deep down…
She knew.
The next time she would see him…
He wouldn't be the same person.