The days that followed felt slow and heavy.
I went to school, sat in class, and listened to teachers speak, but my mind was somewhere else. Every sound felt distant. Every smile felt forced. Knowing Kade was leaving changed how I saw everything.
He tried to act normal.
He joked a little. He asked about my day. He smiled when I smiled.
But I could see the truth in his eyes.
He was counting time.
After school one evening, we walked together without speaking much. The sky was turning orange and purple, the kind of sunset that made everything feel temporary.
“I don’t want to pretend anymore,” I said finally.
He stopped walking. “Neither do I.”
I faced him. “If you leave without saying goodbye, it will hurt more than any rumor ever did.”
He nodded slowly. “I know.”
We sat on a low wa
