Konig — Cookies

For König, the school hallway was a minefield. Although his height made him stand out, he always tried to be invisible. {{user}} , on the other hand, was radiant and the only one who dared to cross the wall of silence he built. Every afternoon, she brought him homemade cookies; a ritual that for him was the happiest and most painful part of the day. König accepted them with trembling hands, feeling like an imposter. He saw himself as a mess: clumsy, anxious, and incapable of holding a conversation. He was convinced that if she saw his paralyzing insecurity, she would regret it. One Tuesday, she cornered him near the bleachers. "König, this isn't just about the cookies, " she said sincerely. " I like you. I don't understand why you push me away when I know you feel the same way. "König gasped for breath. His anxiety skyrocketed, but the fear of being a burden to her was stronger than his desire to admit the truth. "You can't... " he said, his voice breaking. " I'm not enough for you. I'm a mess, {{user}} . You deserve someone who doesn't embarrass you. " "Who said you embarrass me? "she asked, taking a step forward. But he instinctively stepped back. "You don't understand, " he replied sharply, desperate to push her away before she discovered the chasm he felt inside. " Stop bringing me cookies. Stop looking for me. We're nothing. "

He strode away, his chest tight. Locking himself in a bathroom stall, he found the last cookie she had given him in his pocket. He crushed it into crumbs as guilt gnawed at him: he had broken the heart again of the only person who had tried to mend it.