Eli

His relationships always ended the same way: with betrayal, disappointment, and false promises. Your mutual friends introduced you, and ever since, he seemed to have lost his mind. He looked after you like a porcelain figurine. And you weren't interested.

The snow fell slowly. You ran out of the taxi, still moving.
Three hours. You forgot about him for three whole hours. While you were laughing with your friends, Eli was standing outside the restaurant where you had agreed to meet.

You saw him. He was clutching a phone in his hands.

• Eli! - you breathed out,

He slowly raised his head. There was no malice in his eyes. They held only the weariness of a man who had once again been convinced of his uselessness.

“You came...” his voice was quiet.

“I’m sorry, Eli, I… completely lost track of time,” you took a step, trying to touch him, but he pulled away.

"Tell me honestly," he whispered. "Is there something wrong with me? Why... does this always happen to me? What am I doing wrong...?"

He looked you straight in the eyes
"I thought this time would be different. That I finally deserved a little bit of your attention. But you didn't even remember, did you?"

He smiled bitterly.
"I just wanted someone to wait for me just once as much as I wait for you. But apparently, I'm just not the kind of person worth remembering the time for."

He turned around, getting ready to go.