Clark

When he arrived in his father's city…
Everything seemed different.
Quieter.
More empty.
Without her.
In the first few days… he almost gave up.
The room seemed too big.
The days are too long.
And the heart... heavy.
But then, one night, he opened his backpack.
And he saw the tennis shoes.
The one she had given.
He stared for a few seconds…
and remembered her voice:
"For when you come back."
The next day…
He put on his shoes.
⏳ The days have begun…
At first, it was just walking.
Short stories.
Tiresome.
He stopped several times.
He took a deep breath.
I was thinking of giving up.
But I always remembered her.
And it continued.
⏳ Weeks later…
The walks turned into light runs.
He was still getting tired.
But now... I could take more.
His father noticed.
"You're really putting in the effort, huh?" he commented one day.
He just gave a small smile.
Months are passing by…
He started at the gym.
First day?
Difficult.
Gazes.
Insecurity.
Shame.
But this time…
He didn't run away.
I used to get up early.
I was training.
He was eating better.
It was tiring.
It fell.
But he would get up.
And always…
with the same sneakers.
⏳ Time flies…
The clothes started to get too big.
The body changed.
The face became more defined.
But more than that…
The stance has changed.
The perspective changed.
He began to see himself... for real.
And, throughout all those days…
He never forgot.
Never.
⏳ One year later…
He was standing in front of the mirror.
He took a deep breath.
He picked up the sneakers.
The same.
"It's time..." he murmured.
He's back.

⏳ Months turn into a year…
Now he was talking more.
Still shy.
But different.
He was already laughing.
I was already looking into her eyes.
I was already waiting for her in the room.
One day, she showed up wearing two identical blouses.
— “For us!”
He smiled… but when he put it on, it didn't fit right.
He tried to disguise it.
But she realized.
The next day…
"Now try it."
She had adjusted it.
Carefully sewn.
I thought about him.
"You did this... for me?" he asked, surprised.
“Of course,” she smiled. “I want you to feel good.”
And it was there that something changed.
⏳ The years go by…
They grew up together.
Same place in the room.
Same bench at halftime.
Same conversations.
But different feelings.
He still had insecurities.
I still thought it was a burden.
But with her... it seemed less so.
One late afternoon, after class…
They were sitting together, as always.
Comfortable silence.
"Can I ask you something?" he said.

• "He can."
  "Why have you never left?"
  She thought for a second… and smiled.
  "Because it was you."
  His heart raced.
  — “Even… with everything?” — he asked quietly.
  "I never saw 'everything' as a problem," she replied. "I only see you."
  Silence.
  He took a deep breath.
  "So... would you stay with me?"
  She turned her face towards him, with a slight smile.
  — “I’ve been here for a while now.”
  And that's how it was.
  No big scene.
  No pressure.
  They started dating.
  💛 Dating
  She continued to be amazing.
  If something didn't fit him... she would adjust it.
  If he was sad… she would stay by his side.
  If he doubted himself... she reminded him who he was.
  And, little by little…
  He began to believe.
  ⏳ More time passes…
  Now they were older.
  Closer.
  Stronger together.
  Until the day…
  which is when he had to leave.
  "I'll have to travel..." he said in a low voice.
  She was quiet for a moment.
  Then… she smiled.
  "Then go ahead."
  He was surprised.
  "Aren't you sad?"
  "I am," she replied. "But I trust you."
  She handed over a box.
  Inside… a new pair of sneakers.
  "For when you come back."
  He held on tight.

The first day of school was always noisy.
People laughing.
Groups are forming.
Curious glances.
And in the midst of all that... he walked in.
As soon as he walked through the door, some glances already changed.
A whisper here.
A little laugh over there.
— “Look how big it is…”

• "Our…"
  He pretended not to hear.
  I was already used to it.
  He walked straight to the back of the room and sat down, as usual.
  Head down.
  Backpack on lap.
  It was easier that way.
  The class had already started when the door opened again.
  "Sorry I'm late!" said a girl, rushing in.
  The teacher pointed to the places.
  There was only emptiness.
  Next to him.
  She looked... and left.
  Without hesitation.
  "May I sit down?" he asked.
  He shrugged.
• "Whatever."
  She sat down.
  And she smiled.
  As if there was nothing strange about it.
  In the first few days... he hardly spoke.
  She was talking.
  "This class is boring, isn't it?"
  "Do you like music?"
• "What is your name?"
  He rarely responded.
  But he replied.
  And she never left.
  Meanwhile… the rest of the room continued.
  Laughter as he walked by.
  Sideways glances.
  Silent exclusion.
  But she…
  It always stayed.
  ⏳ The days turned into weeks…
  She started sitting with him every day.
  During the break too.
  "Aren't you going to stay with your friends?" he asked one day.
  She shrugged.
  — “I am.”
  He didn't understand at the time.
  But he kept it.
  ⏳ Weeks turn into months…
  One day, during physical education class, they chose the teams.
  Nobody called him.
  Awkward silence.
  Until she spoke:
  "He's on my team."
  Shameless.
  Without hesitation.
  The other day, someone laughed at him in the hallway.
  She stopped.
  — “What’s so funny?”
  The laughter died instantly.
  He was speechless.
  No one had ever done that for him before.