Liam

The air in the room was heavy with uncertainty. You looked at Liam and didn't recognize him. Where was that guy who'd recently been bombarding you with messages and knew your favorite coffee?
He was a dream: confident, attentive, persistent. You kept your distance for a long time, but he broke it with tenderness and care. And you fell in love so much that he became your oxygen.
And then everything started to fall apart. The calls, the compliments, the plans disappeared. He was "busy," but in his stories, we were friends again.
— Can we talk?
— Again? I told you, we're at Alex's.
"You're drifting away, Liam. And I'm not going to pretend everything's okay."
The argument flared up immediately. The pain built up and burst out:
"Either you start appreciating me, or you go to them. Choose: me or your friends."
Liam froze, grinned and looked straight into the eyes:

• You will leave, but your friends will remain.