more than a hello
996 Words
Three months had passed since Ethan and Amara confessed their feelings.
Life wasn't perfect.
But it was happy.
For the first time in years, Amara looked forward to every school day.
She no longer walked through the hallways with her head down.
She still wasn't one of the popular students.
She still preferred books over parties.
But now she knew she didn't have to change who she was.
Because someone loved her exactly as she was.
One sunny morning, Amara was walking to class when she felt someone tap her shoulder.
She turned around.
Ethan.
"Good morning."
A smile instantly appeared on her face.
"Morning."
He handed her a chocolate bar.
Amara laughed.
"What is this for?"
"No reason."
"You definitely have a reason."
"Fine. I just wanted to make you smile."
She rolled her eyes.
But secretly she loved it.
The day went by peacefully until lunch.
Amara arrived at their usual tree and noticed Ethan sitting quietly.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
"Ethan?"
He looked up.
His smile seemed forced.
"Hey."
Amara sat beside him.
"What happened?"
For a moment, he said nothing.
Then he handed her an envelope.
She frowned.
"What is this?"
"Open it."
Amara carefully unfolded the paper.
Her heart stopped.
It was a scholarship acceptance letter.
A scholarship to a prestigious academy.
In another state.
Several hours away.
Amara looked up slowly.
"When did this happen?"
"Last week."
"And you didn't tell me?"
"I didn't know how."
Silence fell between them.
The scholarship was incredible.
A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
But it also meant Ethan might leave.
Again.
The thought made her chest hurt.
"You should go."
Ethan stared at her.
"What?"
"You worked hard for this."
"But—"
"No."
Amara smiled sadly.
"You deserve it."
For the next few weeks, both tried pretending everything was normal.
But the closer the decision date came, the harder it became.
Then something unexpected happened.
Amara received news of her own.
Her short story had won a national writing competition.
Not only that, but the prize included a writing program.
The same city as Ethan's academy.
When she told him, he nearly dropped his phone.
"You're serious?"
She laughed.
"Very serious."
For the first time in weeks, hope returned.
Maybe they wouldn't have to say goodbye after all.
But happiness never seemed to last long.
One afternoon, as Amara walked home from school, she noticed someone standing outside her house.
A girl.
The moment the girl turned around, Amara recognized her.
Olivia.
"What are you doing here?" Amara asked.
Olivia looked nervous.
For the first time ever, she didn't seem confident.
"I need to talk to you."
Amara folded her arms.
"About what?"
"About Ethan."
Immediately, Amara became cautious.
"What about him?"
Olivia lowered her eyes.
"There are things you don't know."
Amara's stomach tightened.
"What things?"
Olivia hesitated.
Then she handed Amara a folded letter.
"I think you should read this."
Before Amara could ask another question, Olivia walked away.
That night, Amara sat on her bed staring at the letter.
Her hands shook slightly.
Finally, she opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
A much younger Ethan.
Standing beside a woman.
His mother.
Written on the back was a date.
A date from years ago.
And beneath it were words that made Amara freeze.
The last picture Ethan ever took with his mother before the accident.
Amara's eyes widened.
Accident?
Ethan had never mentioned an accident.
He had never mentioned his mother.
The next day she found him sitting beneath their tree.
"Ethan."
He looked up.
The moment he saw the photograph, his expression changed.
"Where did you get that?"
"Olivia."
He looked away immediately.
"Ethan."
Silence.
"Ethan, what happened?"
For a long time, he said nothing.
Then finally he spoke.
"My mom died when I was ten."
Amara's heart broke.
"I didn't know."
"Nobody does."
His voice was barely above a whisper.
"I don't like talking about it."
She sat beside him.
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."
Ethan stared at the grass.
"The day she died, we had an argument."
Amara listened quietly.
"I told her I hated her."
His voice cracked.
"And those were the last words I ever said to her."
Tears filled his eyes.
For the first time since she met him, Ethan looked completely vulnerable.
"I never got the chance to take it back."
Without thinking, Amara reached for his hand.
"You were ten."
"It doesn't matter."
"It does."
He looked at her.
"You didn't know what would happen."
The tears finally fell.
Years of pain.
Years of guilt.
Years of pretending he was okay.
Amara gently squeezed his hand.
And for the first time, Ethan allowed someone to see the hurt he had carried for so long.
That moment changed their relationship.
They became closer than ever before.
No secrets.
No walls.
No pretending.
Just honesty.
As graduation approached, everyone became busy preparing for the future.
Applications.
Interviews.
Dreams.
Plans.
The final week of school arrived faster than anyone expected.
Students signed yearbooks and promised to stay in touch.
Teachers gave emotional speeches.
The reality was finally sinking in.
Everything was about to change.
On the last day, Ethan and Amara returned to the tree where their story had begun.
The tree where Ethan had first sat with her.
The tree where she stopped feeling invisible.
The tree where they had shared countless memories.
Ethan smiled.
"Do you ever think about that first day?"
Amara laughed softly.
"All the time."
"You looked terrified when I sat beside you."
"I was."
"Why?"
"Because nobody ever chose me before."
Ethan's smile faded.
He gently took her hand.
"I'll always choose you."
Amara felt tears fill her eyes.
The setting sun painted the sky gold and orange.
Everything felt beautiful.
Everything felt temporary.
Everything felt important.
And as they sat together beneath the tree, neither knew exactly what the future would bring.
But they knew one thing.
Their story wasn't over.
Not even close.
- Writer
