It didn't take long.
Things like this never do.
When people with power decide to act—
They don't wait.
They don't hesitate.
They don't ask.
They take control.
The first sign came the next morning.
She wasn't there.
I noticed immediately.
Her seat—
Empty.
Too empty.
It shouldn't have mattered.
It shouldn't have felt like something was missing.
But it did.
"…Guess she finally came to her senses."
A voice behind me.
I didn't turn.
Didn't need to.
Ryan.
"Can't say I'm surprised," he continued.
"People like her don't stay interested in people like you."
I stayed quiet.
Not because I agreed.
But because arguing wouldn't change anything.
Maybe he was right.
Maybe this was how it was supposed to end.
Fast.
Clean.
Like it never happened.
But something felt off.
Wrong.
She wouldn't just disappear.
Not after yesterday.
Not after what she said.
The day dragged on.
Slow.
Heavy.
Every minute felt longer than it should have.
And by the time school ended—
I couldn't ignore it anymore.
Something had happened.
I found out where she lived by accident.
Or maybe—
Not really.
People talk.
Especially when someone like her is involved.
It wasn't hard to piece together.
Big house.
Private area.
Security.
Of course.
I stood across the street.
Looking at it.
It didn't feel real.
Like something out of a different life.
A life I wasn't meant to be part of.
"…You shouldn't be here."
The voice came from behind me.
Familiar.
Calm.
Controlled.
I didn't turn right away.
Because I already knew.
The same man from before.
The one who warned me.
"I just want to talk to her," I said.
"You won't."
Simple.
Final.
I turned this time.
He stood a few steps away.
Same posture.
Same expression.
Nothing had changed.
Except—
This time—
I wasn't at school.
"You don't get to decide that," I said.
The words felt strange coming out of my mouth.
Because normally—
I wouldn't push back.
Not like this.
But this wasn't normal.
And neither was she.
A small pause.
Then—
"She's not available."
"What did you do?" I asked.
His expression didn't change.
"We ensured she understands the situation."
My chest tightened.
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only one you need."
Silence.
Heavy.
Unfair.
"…Let me see her," I said.
"No."
No hesitation.
No negotiation.
Just—
No.
I clenched my fists.
"Then tell her I'm here."
"She already knows."
That stopped me.
"…What?"
"She knows you came," he said.
"She also knows you won't be seeing her."
Something inside me snapped.
Not loud.
Not explosive.
Just—
Sharp.
Because now—
This wasn't just distance.
This wasn't just pressure.
This was control.
And I hated it.
"…You don't get to control everything," I said.
A small pause.
Then—
"We don't control everything," he replied calmly.
Another step closer.
"Just the things that matter."
The words hit harder than anything else.
Because to them—
This mattered.
Not her feelings.
Not mine.
But what this could become.
And that was enough.
"…She chose this," I said.
"And she can un-choose it."
Just like that.
Like it was nothing.
Like it didn't matter.
But it did.
To me—
It did.
I looked past him.
At the house.
At the windows.
At the distance between us.
And for the first time—
It felt impossible.
Not just difficult.
Not just risky.
Impossible.
"…Go home," he said.
Not harsh.
Not aggressive.
Just final.
And for once—
I didn't argue.
Because deep down—
I understood something I didn't want to accept.
This wasn't a fight I could win.
Not with money.
Not with power.
Not with anything I had.
But as I turned to leave—
I saw something.
A curtain move.
Just slightly.
From the second floor.
A silhouette.
Still.
Watching.
Her.
For a moment—
Everything stopped.
Then—
The curtain closed.
And just like that—
She was gone again.
But this time—
It didn't feel like distance.
It felt like she was being taken away.
And I couldn't do anything about it.