Damir

You've been friends since fifth grade. He was always there: he'd walk you home after school, let you copy from his books, and listen silently when you cried. You thought it was just friendship. In ninth grade, you realized you loved him. Your heart skipped a beat when he laughed. You waited hours for his texts. You reread his messages at night. You didn't say anything. You were afraid. He came home happy at just after ten. He said he'd fallen in love with a girl from a parallel class. He showed her photo. You smiled and said:

— "Cool. Congratulations."

He started to distance himself. He stopped texting her first, cancelled meetings, and disappeared after school. You saw him carrying her bag and waiting outside her office. You sat alone at her desk and stared at his empty seat. He didn't smile at you anymore. He just nodded as he walked. One day you were walking home from school together—a rare occurrence. He stopped, looked at you, and said:

— "It's so good that you're just my friend. All girls fall in love sooner or later, but you don't. Thank you for not being like that."

You pretended everything was fine. You smiled, nodded, and said: "Oh, come on, whatever. "* *He moved on. *

• And everything inside froze. After all, he doesn't know that you've fallen in love too. And he never will.