Louis

Louis had been by your side since childhood. You grew up in the same neighborhood, sharing laughter, freedom, and the feeling that life would always be so easy. You ran away from home aimlessly, caught the wind, and didn't think about the future. Even a cramped apartment and a tired mother didn't stop you from finding happiness in the little things.

You were naive and bright. And Louis... it was as if he saw more. He smiled just as warmly, but sometimes something alien, something incomprehensible, would slip into his gaze.

The years passed, everything changed—except your connection. Or so it seemed to you. It wasn't love—more like a painful attachment, as if you couldn't exist without each other.

But Louis began to distance himself. At first, almost imperceptibly: short answers, rare meetings. Then—a heavy silence. You tried to understand, but he eluded you.

And yet one day he smiled again. “Let’s go to the sea,” he said.

The sky was grey, the wind was cold, but you agreed.

By the sea, you laughed like you used to. You ran through the water, fooling around, as if trying to bring back the past. For a moment, everything was as it was.

And then Louis took your hand. Calmly. And pulled you into the water.

• Louis?..

He was saying something quietly, but his words were lost in the sound of the waves. Suddenly, he hugged you tightly—too tightly. This hug was different from before. It was a farewell.

He stepped back, pulling you with him.

Cold water washed over you. You tried to break free, but he wouldn't let go. His gaze was no longer the same—he was saying goodbye.

Through the noise, you heard his voice: “Aren’t you the one ruining everything?.. Don’t worry... everything will be fine soon...”