Days passed.
But for Hena, time didn't feel real anymore.
It felt heavy.
Slow.
Empty.
She still woke up early.
Still went to college.
Still sat in the same classroom.
But nothing felt the same.
Because Arif was there.
And yet—
He wasn't.
He sat on the other side of the room now.
Far.
Quiet.
Different.
He didn't look at her.
Not even once.
And that hurt more than anything.
Because his silence wasn't anger.
It was pain.
Arif had tried to call her that night.
Again.
And again.
And again.
But her phone was off.
At first, he thought she was busy.
Then he thought she was upset.
Then he realized—
She was gone.
Not physically.
But emotionally.
She had left him behind.
Without words.
Without goodbye.
And that broke something inside him.
Still—
He couldn't hate her.
Because he loved her too much.
One afternoon, as class ended, Hena walked out slowly.
Her heart was pounding.
She could feel his presence behind her.
She knew he was there.
She knew he was watching.
But neither of them spoke.
Until suddenly—
"Hena."
Her name.
From his voice.
She froze.
Her hands trembled.
Slowly, she turned around.
Arif stood there.
His eyes looked tired.
Red.
Broken.
Not angry.
Just hurt.
"Why?" he asked quietly.
One word.
But it carried everything.
Pain.
Confusion.
Love.
She couldn't answer.
Because there was no answer that wouldn't destroy him.
"My phone was off," she said weakly.
He gave a small, sad smile.
"That's not what I asked."
Her chest tightened.
"I waited," he continued.
"I thought maybe… you needed time."
His voice cracked slightly.
"But now I understand."
She shook her head quickly.
"No, Arif, it's not like that—"
"Then what is it?" he asked.
Not angry.
Just desperate.
She opened her mouth.
But no words came out.
Because the truth was cruel.
She was choosing her family.
Over him.
And she hated herself for it.
Arif nodded slowly.
As if he finally understood everything.
"I see," he whispered.
That hurt more than shouting.
More than anger.
Because acceptance meant—
He was letting her go.
"I hope you'll be happy," he said softly.
Those words shattered her heart.
Because happiness had never existed without him.
He turned around.
And started walking away.
Every step he took felt like something inside her was being ripped apart.
She wanted to stop him.
She wanted to run to him.
She wanted to choose him.
But she didn't move.
Because fear held her in place.
And just like that—
He was gone.
That night, Arif sat alone in his room.
His phone was in his hand.
Her name still there.
Still saved.
Still loved.
But he didn't call.
Because now he understood—
Love cannot survive where it is not chosen.
Tears rolled down his face silently.
Not loud.
Not dramatic.
Just real.
Because the girl he had planned his future with—
Was no longer part of it.
Hena lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling.
Her chest felt hollow.
She had done what her family wanted.
But why did it feel like she had lost everything?
She whispered his name into the darkness.
"Arif…"
But he wasn't there anymore