Aerion Targaryen. 7

It used to be easy.

Aerion appeared everywhere.

In the gardens.

In the hallways.

In the stables.

I always ended up finding you.

Although he later pretended it had been a coincidence.

—What a coincidence to see you here.

He said.

And you always laughed because you both knew it was a lie.

But lately…

not anymore.

Now days would go by without them speaking.

Weeks.

And every time you saw him, he seemed to be in a hurry to go somewhere else.

To talk to someone else.

To do anything but stay with you.

One afternoon you saw him cross the courtyard.

You smiled reflexively.

Waiting for him to approach.

As before.

But Aerion barely nodded at you.

And he kept walking.

As if nothing had happened.

As if I hadn't noticed the disappointment on your face.

You couldn't sleep that night.

Because it wasn't that he had been cruel.

It wasn't that they had fought.

It was worse.

Because it seemed as if he had simply given up trying.

And you didn't know when it had happened.

Nor why.

Days later you found him in an empty gallery.

For the first time in a long time, they were alone.

Did I do something to you?

You asked.

Aerion looked up.

Confused.

-That?

—Because I feel like you don't want to be with me anymore.

The words hurt even before they were finished.

And for a moment he said nothing.

Nothing.

That was the worst part.

Because before, I always had an answer.

Always.

-It's not that.

He finally said.

But it rang too late.

Too weak.

—So what is it?

Aerion opened his mouth.

And she closed it again.

As if I didn't know how to explain it either.

As if I were losing you and didn't know how to stop it.

And suddenly you understood something.

Sometimes people don't just drift apart.

Sometimes they drift apart little by little.

So slowly that you don't notice.

Until one day you look at someone who meant everything to you…

and you no longer know how to find it again.