The Love I Couldn't Let Go

chapter two

The room was quiet that night.

The only sound inside was the soft humming of the ceiling fan as it turned slowly above us. Mercy was lying peacefully on my bed, sleeping as if she had known the room for a long time.

I sat on the chair beside the small table, watching her for a moment.

It felt strange.

Just a few hours earlier, she had only been someone I acted with during a small hostel drama in the car park. We barely knew each other then.

But somehow, the night had brought us closer.

I leaned back in the chair and looked around the room. The light from the bulb reflected softly on the walls, creating a calm atmosphere.

After some time, I also lay down on the other side of the bed.

Sleep came slowly.

My mind kept replaying the events of the evening—the drama, our conversation, the laughter, and the quiet walk back to my block.

For some reason, the memory of her smile stayed in my thoughts.

The Morning After

The next morning, the sunlight slipped gently through the window.

I woke up slowly, stretching my arms before turning slightly on the bed.

Then I remembered.

Mercy was still there.

She was lying beside me, still asleep.

For a moment, I simply watched her.

I smiled quietly.

A few minutes later, she moved slightly and opened her eyes.

At first she looked confused.

Then she remembered where she was.

“Oh,” she said softly, sitting up.

“Good morning,” I said.

She looked at me and laughed a little.

“Good morning.”

“I didn’t realize I slept for so long,” she said.

“You were tired,” I replied.

She stretched her arms and looked around the room.

“Thank you for letting me sleep here,” she said.

“You’re welcome.”

For a moment we sat there talking casually about the night before and the drama we had acted in.

Then she picked up her phone from the table.

“I should probably go back to my room before my roommates start asking questions,” she joked.

I laughed.

“That’s probably a good idea.”

She stood up and walked toward the door, then paused.

“Mary?”

“Yes?”

“I had fun yesterday.”

“Me too,” I said.

She smiled.

“Maybe we can hang out again later.”

“I’d like that.”

She waved slightly before stepping out of the room.

The door closed behind her.

I sat quietly on the bed for a moment, thinking about everything that had happened.

Something about Mercy felt different from the other girls I knew in the hostel.

There was a warmth in her presence that made me feel comfortable.

I didn’t know it yet.

But that simple night—the night we acted together, laughed together, and shared quiet moments in my room—was only the beginning.

Because from that day forward, Mercy and I would begin spending more time together.

Talking.

Laughing.

Sharing secrets.

And slowly, without either of us noticing at first…

Our friendship would begin turning into something deeper.

Something stronger.

Something that would eventually change both of our lives forever.