Stephen

It was raining outside—a drizzly, cold rain, as if made especially for evenings like this. Drops trickled down the glass of the bus stop, blurring the city lights into hazy patches.

You stood under the awning, hiding your hands in the sleeves of your coat, and still glanced back from time to time. At the sign. An all-too-familiar face. Stefan.

The bright banner hung right behind the glass—it looked different there. Confident, flawless, with that same easy smile that always irritated you because it was too... perfect. That's how he became. You agreed. Don't show up. Don't interfere. Don't become part of other people's shop windows.

You both could. And you both knew it. That's why you decided it wasn't worth it. To avoid competition. To avoid losing each other. You exhaled quietly, looking down.

“But we promised…” you said almost inaudibly.

• What exactly?

A voice sounded unexpectedly close. You turned around. Stefan stood next to you, wet from the rain, his hair stuck to his temples. He held his glasses in his hands, slowly twirling them between his fingers. He looked tired—not like the one on the banner. Real.

Stefan was your best friend. Promises for the future. You decided everything with him. He was the kind of friend you could trust with the most stupid truth or secret. And no one would ever know, and he'd even laugh. That's how you remember him.

You looked at him for a long time, as if comparing him with the image behind you.

"Don't pretend," you answered quietly. "You remember everything perfectly."

He looked away for a second.

• It's not as you think.

"Seriously?" You chuckled, but without joy. "Then explain why your face is hanging half the city behind me?"

Stefan squeezed his glasses a little tighter.

— I didn’t plan it… everything happened so quickly.

You shook your head.

• No. You just couldn't help yourself.

The rain intensified, muffling the street. A heavy silence fell between you. He took a step closer.

• Look, this doesn't mean that I...

"What?" You looked up at him sharply. "That nothing has changed?"

He fell silent. And that was enough. You turned away.