Angel Last mission is love

36. Absence and Distance

A whole week had passed since that terrible day at the hospital, and Clara had barely left her father’s side. She stayed there from morning until night, sleeping on a small chair beside his bed, eating only when she remembered, and watching over him with constant worry. Her father was slowly recovering, but the doctor’s warning kept ringing in her ears: no stress, no bad news, complete peace. So Clara told no one what had really happened. She hid her own pain, her confusion, and the lies being spread about her, all just to make sure her father stayed calm and got better. As a result, she had completely stopped going to university—too busy, too heartbroken, and too afraid of facing the stares and whispers.

Back at the campus, things felt strangely empty without her. Every morning when Adrian walked into the classroom, his eyes would automatically drift toward Clara’s empty seat. At first, he told himself he did not care, that he had ended their relationship and should move on. But as days went by, that cold feeling began to melt into curiosity, then concern. Why isn’t she coming? he kept wondering. Even if things are over between us, she wouldn’t just stop attending classes without a reason. He tried to push the thought away, but the empty chair remained there, a quiet reminder of her absence.

Meanwhile, Stella was using this time to her advantage. She made sure to be near Adrian whenever she could—offering notes when he needed them, asking about his day, laughing at his jokes, and acting as a supportive friend. She spoke nothing of Clara, as if she had already forgotten her, and slowly but steadily, she was filling the space Clara had left behind. Adrian, still hurt and confused, found himself talking to Stella more often, even if a small part of him still felt that something was not quite right.

Then came the day of their first major examination. The classroom was full of students, everyone busy revising their notes and settling into their seats. Adrian looked around one last time before the teacher arrived, his gaze falling again on Clara’s desk. It was still empty. No sign of her, no message, no explanation. A heavy feeling settled in his chest, though he could not name exactly what it was—regret, doubt, or just plain worry.

Stella noticed him looking and leaned over gently. “Don’t think about her,” she said softly. “If she wants to leave and disappear, that’s her choice. You have your paper to focus on.”

Adrian only nodded, but his mind was far from the books.

In the hospital, Clara had no idea that the exam was even taking place. She sat beside her father’s bed, watching him breathe steadily as he slept. All that mattered to her now was his recovery. The university, the rumors, the broken relationship—they all felt far away and unimportant compared to the man who had raised her. She wiped her tired eyes and smiled faintly when her father stirred and opened his eyes.

“How are you feeling today, Dad?” she asked, her voice soft and loving.

He gave her a weak but warm smile. “Much better, my child. You look so tired, though. You should go back to your studies. You can’t stay here forever.”

Clara shook her head and held his hand gently. “Don’t worry about anything else right now. All I want is to see you fully healthy and strong again. Nothing else matters to me more than you.”

As the day went on, while students wrote their papers and life at the university moved forward, Clara stayed right where she was—devoted only to her father, and hoping that one day, the truth would come to light, and everything would be okay again.