Angel Last mission is love

28.Standing Together

The afternoon sun filtered through the thick branches of the oak tree, casting shifting patterns of light and shadow over the three of them. Clara’s words hung in the air, heavy and painful, and for a moment, neither Adrian nor Leo knew exactly what to say. They could only imagine how shattered she must feel—losing not just her parents’ relationship, but also her mother and younger sister all at once.

Adrian kept his hand resting gently over hers, his touch warm and steady. He could feel her trembling slightly, and he gave her fingers a soft, reassuring squeeze. “I can’t begin to understand how much this hurts,” he said quietly, his voice sincere. “But please believe me when I say this: it is not the end. Families change, yes, but that doesn’t mean you are left with nothing. You still have your father, who loves you, and you have us.”

Leo nodded in agreement, leaning forward slightly so he could look her in the eye. “And you are not alone in this. Whatever you need—whether it’s someone to talk to, help with anything at home, or just someone to sit with you when things feel too heavy—we are here. We’re not going anywhere, Clara.”

Clara looked from one to the other, her vision still blurred by tears, but slowly, the sharp edge of her pain began to soften just a little. For so long, she had believed that when trouble came, she would have to face it by herself—that it was better to keep things hidden than to burden others. But now, seeing the genuine concern in their faces, she realized how wrong she had been. She let out a long, shaky breath and wiped her cheeks with the sleeve of her uniform.

“I just… I keep thinking that if I had been better, or if things had been different, maybe none of this would have happened,” she whispered. “It feels like everything good is being taken away from me one by one.”

“That is not true,” Adrian said firmly but gently. “None of this is your fault. Adults make their own choices, and sometimes those choices are selfish or painful, but they are not your responsibility. You have done nothing wrong.”

As they sat there, talking in soft voices, they did not notice that Stella had wandered closer, lingering near the edge of the garden path. She had seen Clara crying, and she had heard parts of what was being said. A strange, cold feeling settled in her chest—not exactly sympathy, but a quiet satisfaction that things were not going well for Clara. She told herself that this was exactly what she deserved, that someone from such a background could never truly belong or be happy. But when she saw how closely Adrian and Leo were staying by Clara’s side, how they were comforting her instead of turning away, that satisfaction quickly turned back into bitter jealousy. She turned and walked away, deciding that even if Clara’s family was falling apart, it was not enough—Adrian still cared for her, and that was something Stella could not accept.

Back under the tree, Adrian looked at the time and then at Clara. “Come on,” he said gently. “We should go back inside before the next period starts. Or if you don’t feel like staying today, we can walk you home and make sure you are alright.”

Clara shook her head slightly, taking a deep breath to steady herself. “No… I want to stay. If I go home now, I will just sit alone and think too much. Being here, with you two… it feels a little easier.”

They helped her stand up, and together they walked slowly back toward the main building. As they entered the corridor, some students glanced over, noticing Clara’s red eyes, but no one said anything. Adrian walked on one side of her, Leo on the other, creating a quiet, protective space around her.

When they reached their next classroom, they took their seats as usual. Adrian passed Clara a small packet of tissues from his bag, and gave her a small, encouraging smile. “Whenever you feel like it’s getting too much, just squeeze my hand or tap my shoulder. I’ll be right there.”

Clara managed a faint, wobbly smile in return—the first hint of brightness she had shown all day. “Thank you,” she said softly. “Both of you. I don’t know what I would do without you.”

“Friends are for exactly this,” Leo said with a gentle grin. “Now, let’s try to focus a little, alright? Or at least pretend to listen so the teacher doesn’t notice.”

A tiny, quiet laugh escaped Clara, and for a moment, the heavy feeling in her chest felt a little lighter. She knew that the pain would not go away overnight, that there would be many difficult days ahead. Her mother and sister were far away, her family was broken, and life would never be exactly the same again. But as she sat there between Adrian and Leo, feeling their support, she realized that she did not have to be strong all by herself. She had people who cared, people who would stand by her side no matter what happened.

And even though she did not know it yet, this bond they shared would soon be tested again—because Stella, watching from across the room, had already decided that if Clara’s own family could not hold together, perhaps it was time to make sure Adrian and Leo turned away from her too.