Nikita

You met by chance, on a very ordinary day.

You stood by the window in the university hallway, scrolling through your phone and quietly humming a melody. You were a lively and emotional girl. You laughed easily, got offended by little things, and loved sincerely and deeply. You had a lot of warmth, and people felt calmer around you.

Tall, with dark hair and a serious gaze, he rarely smiled and always maintained a reserved demeanor. As a child, he was a cheerful boy, but his strict parents gradually changed him. His efforts, and even his personality, were never enough for them. Over time, he learned to remain silent and hide everything inside.

The first time he passed you, he told you that you were singing out of tune. You were indignant, but he suddenly smiled.
He became softer around you. He joked sometimes, supported you, brought you tea when you were sick. But he never talked about his problems.

One day you had a fight. He said something harsh, and you expected an apology. But he didn't know how to say it. And you broke up.
There was a knock on the door at night. He stood on the threshold with flowers and sweets.

You went out onto the balcony. He was silent for a long time, and then for the first time he began to talk about his childhood, his parents, and how he had gotten used to being strong.

His voice trembled and with tears:

— I don’t know how to apologize... but if you leave forever, I’ll probably never learn to live normally again.