girl and woman

The night was almost silent.
The water in the pool reflected the lantern so evenly that it seemed as if time had stood still.
She sat on a wooden chaise lounge, one leg tucked under her. The tea she'd long since forgotten about slowly cooled in her hands.
Opposite, on the next deck chair, sat a girl.
Still just a child.
Thin fingers nervously played with the edge of the sweatshirt, and his gaze constantly darted off to the side.
They had been talking for over an hour.
About music.
About funny videos.
About cats.
About how quickly summer goes by.
The conversation was easy.
So light that no one would ever guess that a real catastrophe was happening inside the girl right now.
Every time she heard her laugh, her heart started beating faster.
Every time she caught her gaze, she wanted to turn away.
Not because it was unpleasant.
Because it was getting scary.
It's scary how many feelings fit inside one little person.
...

• You're unusually quiet today.
  She said it calmly.
  No worries.
  I just noticed.
  The girl smiled quickly.
• Everything is fine.
  The answer came too quickly.
  She bowed her head slightly.
• Is it true?
• Certainly.
• I don't believe it.
  These two words sounded surprisingly soft.
  Not as an accusation.
  More like an invitation to stop pretending.
  And it was at that moment that everything inside finally broke.
  The girl felt her breathing become heavy.
  It's as if someone is slowly squeezing my chest with their hands.
  She turned away.
  Tried to take a deep breath.
  It didn't work.
  Everything started to blur before my eyes.
  She tried her best not to cry.
  Not now.
  Just not in front of her.
  Just not today.
  She had promised herself for so many months that she would never allow this to happen.
  But the promise was not kept.
  The first tear fell of its own accord.
  Then the second one.
  She quickly wiped her face with her palm.
  She pretended that everything was fine.
  But it was no longer possible to hide his trembling shoulders.
  ...
• Hey...
  She placed the mug on the small table nearby.
• Look at me.
  De