Shattered Bonds

EPISODE 10

The sun had long since set, casting a dim glow over the living room where Tristan sat on the couch, his hands folded tightly in his lap. His parents stood in front of him, the weight of the silence thick in the air. His father, usually the more composed one, looked troubled. His mother’s face showed concern, but there was a soft, almost resigned sadness in her eyes as she gazed down at her son.

His father finally spoke, his voice calm but firm.

“Son, we know you're hurting,” he began, choosing his words carefully. “We know this situation with Nathan is tearing you apart. And we see how hard you've tried—how hard you've fought to fix things. But Tristan..."

His voice trailed off, the words hanging in the air like a heavy fog. Tristan felt the sting of the unspoken truth, but he didn’t look up. He couldn’t. He knew what they were about to say, and hearing it aloud would only make it feel more real.

“Son, Nathan...” His father continued, his eyes never leaving his son’s face. “He’s moved on. He’s chosen to remove you from his life, and no amount of begging or trying will change that. I know it’s hard to accept, but you need to understand that he doesn't seem to care about you the way you care about him.”

Tristan's throat tightened at the words, but he didn’t respond. He’d heard them before—his father's quiet yet biting words that had been echoing in his mind every time he tried, yet failed, to reach Nathan.

His mother placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, squeezing it in a way that felt like both comfort and restraint.

“We've watched you, son,” she said softly. “We’ve watched you try everything, give everything, to fix this. To make it right. But sometimes... sometimes, no matter how much we want something, we have to recognize when it’s not meant to be.”

The words stung, but they didn’t make Tristan angry. They hurt, but they also felt true. Deep down, he knew they were right. Nathan was gone from his life in a way that couldn’t be undone. The thought of Nathan moving on—of Nathan living his life without him—felt like a weight on his chest that wouldn’t ease.

“Your father is right, Tristan,” his mother added, her voice a little more strained now. “This situation... it's affecting you more than you realize. Your grades, your health, everything. You were ranked fourth in class, son, and I can see it. Nathan doesn’t care about you anymore. He doesn’t care about what you’re going through.”

Tristan's chest tightened. He knew they weren’t blaming him—they were just trying to help him understand. But the words felt like daggers nonetheless. He could still see Nathan’s face when he’d last seen him in the cafeteria, eyes cold and distant, not a single flicker of recognition. It was as if all the history they’d shared, everything they’d been through, had never existed.

His father stepped closer, his hand resting on the back of the couch as he looked down at Tristan with a solemn expression. “Son, you’re a man now, and as painful as it is, part of becoming a man is knowing when to let go. You’ve done your best. But at some point, you have to draw the line.”

Tristan swallowed hard, trying to keep the tears at bay. “But I can't... I can't just let go. Not after everything. Not after what we’ve been through.” His voice trembled, betraying him. “Nathan is my best friend... he means everything to me.”

His mother shook her head softly, her eyes full of sadness. “Tristan, you have to stop measuring your worth by someone else’s approval, someone else's love. You are so much more than just Nathan’s friend. You’re a bright, wonderful young man, and you have a future ahead of you. But if you keep clinging to this... if you keep trying to fix something that can’t be fixed, you're going to lose more than just him. You’ll lose yourself, too.”

His father nodded in agreement, though there was a sad understanding in his gaze. “We don’t want that for you. We want you to thrive, to be happy. And that means stepping away from Nathan. He’s not the person you need to hold on to anymore, son.”

Tristan looked down at his hands, feeling utterly lost. His heart still ached for Nathan, the weight of the years they’d shared together now feeling like an unbearable burden. But deep down, he knew they were right. Nathan was gone. He had walked away, and no matter how much Tristan begged, it wasn’t going to change anything.

“What if I never get over him?” Tristan asked, his voice barely above a whisper. “What if I can’t?”

His mother’s voice softened, a gentle reminder of the love she’d always shown him. “You will. In time, you’ll heal. But not if you keep putting your energy into something that isn’t going to change. We know how much you care for Nathan, but sometimes love means knowing when to let go. Don't worry you will make more friends and good ones at that in the future”

Tristan nodded slowly, though the knot in his throat was thick. “I understand, Mom, Dad.” His voice broke. “I’ve made my decision. I’m going to attend a different university. Being in the same school, seeing him every day... it’s torture. I can’t keep doing this. It’s not fair to me anymore.”

His father’s face softened. “Have you really thought this through, son?” he asked, his tone serious. “Changing universities means starting over. It means leaving behind everything you know.”

“I’ve thought about it,” Tristan replied quietly, his gaze fixed on the floor. “And I can’t keep being in the same place as him. I need space to breathe. I need to move on, and I can’t do that if I stay where I am.”

His mother sighed deeply, but there was a sense of finality in her voice as she spoke. “If that’s what you truly want, then we support you. But remember, this decision is yours. You need to be sure it’s what’s best for you.”

Tristan nodded again, the tears he’d been holding back finally spilling over. “I’m sure, Mom. I’m sure.”

His father reached out and pulled him into a tight embrace, his voice low. “We love you, son. You’re going to be okay. You’ll find a more worthy friend again. Just promise us you’ll take care of yourself. Don’t let this break you.”

Tristan clung to his father for a moment, the comfort of his embrace grounding him. For the first time in a long while, he felt a sense of clarity—his parents were right. It was time to move on.

“Thank you, Dad. Thank you, Mom.” He whispered, though his voice shook with emotion. He wasn’t sure how long it would take, but he knew one thing: he couldn’t keep waiting for Nathan to forgive him. It was time for him to take control of his own life again.

“if we didn't know any better, we would think you and Nathan are lovers." His mother commented causing them all to laugh at it.

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