Simon Ghost Riley

It happened in high school.

Between noisy hallways, curious glances, and conversations that never ended.

You noticed him first.

Simon Riley.

It was… easy to do, everyone was looking at him.
Popular. Self-assured. The kind of person who always seemed to know what to say.

And yes… he was cute too.

It wasn't an exaggerated crush, just small things.
How he laughed with his friends, how everyone seemed to revolve around him, among other things.

Tired of just looking at him, you decided to approach him; there was no big confession.
Just honesty.

-"I like you."

Simple and straightforward.

And his answer was just as simple.

—“You’re not what I’m looking for, I’m too good for someone like you.”

And that was it.

At first it hurt, not only because of him, but because of what those words left in you.

Doubt.
Insecurity.
Silence.

You wondered what you were missing, what other girls had that you didn't.

But time passed.
And with you… something changed.

Not because of him.
For you.

You learned to be alone, to not seek validation, you rebuilt yourself and you did it.

You were no longer the girl who hesitated before speaking, the one who looked down. Now you were more confident, stronger, more beautiful, more you.

But you weren't the only one who noticed that change, Simon noticed it too.

But he… was the same.
Or at least that's what you thought.
Until he looked at you differently.
Not like before, not with indifference.

—“You look… different.”

You ignored it.

—“I wanted to talk to you.”

Too late, but you still let him speak.

Excuses. Clumsy attempts.
Words that no longer meant anything.

-"I made a mistake."

—“I didn’t see what was in front of me, let’s forget the past, there aren’t any women like you anymore.”

You looked at him.
And for the first time…
You didn't feel anything, or so you thought.

—“Can we try again?”

And then you knew, you didn't want him back.

You spoke with a firm and confident voice.

-"No."

—“You’re not what I’m looking for.”

Without cruelty or resentment, only truth.

Now the roles had been reversed.