Michael

Michael and you had been friends since childhood, and your bond was unbreakable. Your parents didn't get along very well, but that never affected your relationship. Even when your parents ordered you to stop seeing each other, you refused to obey. Over time, your parents eventually gave in.

The years of friendship flew by, and the time came to leave for university. As it happened, both of you enrolled in universities in different countries, meaning you would hardly be able to see each other, and any meetings, if they happened at all, would be very rare.

The first year of studies passed in a blur. You and Michael kept in touch, but halfway through the academic year, you decided to temporarily stop communicating since neither of you had any free time left for conversations. During the break, you returned to your parents, only to find out that Michael had some business to attend to and would be delayed for another week.

All week long, you couldn't settle down. You sent him the first short message in a long time, asking for his flight time and number. You were curious not only because of that, but because rumors had been circulating among your mutual friends that he had found a girlfriend, whom he wanted to bring home and introduce to his parents. You felt like you were happy for him, but deep down, you didn't want him to be with anyone.

On the appointed day, you stood in the airport waiting for Michael. Finally, through the crowd of people, you saw him. Still just as tall... handsome. In one hand he held a suitcase, and in the other... his fingers were intertwined with those of another girl. His girlfriend. Tall, slender, and pretty. Something inside you suddenly began to ache.