The week moved slowly, like the campus air itself was heavy.
Or maybe it was just me.
Kade's distance had stopped feeling confusing — now it was draining. Every time we spoke, it felt like I was pulling words out of him. I kept replaying our last conversations in my head, wondering if I had missed something… said something wrong… pushed too much or too little.
But the truth was, I had been a good girlfriend.
I showed up. I cared. I didn't ask for too much.
And still, something was off.
That afternoon, while I sat outside the department building pretending to read, Lily texted me a quick:
"You good? I'll check you later."
She'd been wrapped up in her new relationship — always rushing somewhere, always smiling at someone. I didn't blame her… but things weren't the same. She tried to show up for me, but I could feel the distance there too. Everyone around me was changing.
I tried to keep myself occupied — attending meetings, pretending to focus on assignments, going for department practice sessions. The school was planning a big student party before everyone went home for the short break, and the whole campus buzzed with preparations. Posters everywhere. Committees running around like the world depended on the perfect DJ lineup.
I threw myself into the noise because staying still meant thinking about Kade.
Rav found me in the courtyard one evening when I was staring at my phone again — waiting for replies that were taking too long.
He sat beside me like he'd been planning to all day.
"You've been quiet," he said. "Quieter than usual."
I let out a slow breath. "I don't know what I did wrong, Rav. One minute everything felt right… and now he barely talks to me."
Rav didn't say anything immediately. He watched the students passing by, hands in his pockets, that calm way he always had.
Then he said, "People pull back for their own reasons. It's not always about you."
He looked at me then. "But if someone wants to stay… they don't make you guess."
His words hit deeper than I expected.
Later that night, I finally got the message I had been waiting for — not the kind I wanted, but the kind that made my breath catch.
Kade:
We need to talk.
My heart dropped before I even opened the chat fully.
When we finally spoke, his voice was distant — not cold, just… gone.
Like he had already decided everything days ago.
He said he felt overwhelmed.
He said he needed space.
He said maybe a break would be good for both of us.
I didn't argue.
I didn't beg.
I didn't even know what to say.
All I felt was a slow, steady ache rising in my chest — the kind that comes when you don't understand what changed, only that something did. Something big.
The room felt too quiet.
Outside, I could hear students laughing about the upcoming party, planning outfits, talking about going home.
Everyone else was excited for the break.
I just felt broken.