The Silence He Left Behind

The train had passed. The platform was empty.

Haruki was gone.

Aoi couldn't breathe.

Her body felt frozen, her mind blank. The wind howled through the empty station, carrying the ghost of his last smile.

She staggered forward, her legs trembling. "Haruki?"

No answer.

She looked down at the edge of the platform. There was nothing. No sign of him.

Did he… jump?

Her heart pounded so hard it hurt. She clutched her chest, gasping for air.

No. No, no, no.

She would have seen it. Would have heard it.

Wouldn't she?

Shaking, she turned in circles, searching, hoping—

Then, a sound.

A cough.

Aoi spun around. And there, slumped on the cold ground near the station's pillars—

Haruki.

His head rested against the wall, his breathing ragged. His eyes half-open, distant.

He was alive.

Relief crashed over her so suddenly that she almost collapsed. Tears blurred her vision.

"Haruki!"

She ran to him, falling to her knees. "You— you idiot! What the hell were you thinking?"

His lips curled into the faintest smile. "Didn't jump," he murmured. "Guess… I'm not as brave as I thought."

Aoi's throat tightened. "Brave?" She grabbed his shoulders, shaking him. "You think this is about bravery? You scared me! You—"

Her voice cracked. She couldn't hold it in anymore.

Tears spilled down her cheeks. "Why? Why would you do this?"

Haruki looked at her, and for the first time, he didn't hide.

"I just wanted the pain to stop," he whispered.

Aoi felt her heart break.

She pulled him into a hug, her arms trembling. "You don't have to do this alone."

For a long time, he didn't move. Then, slowly, his hands clutched the back of her sweater, as if holding onto something fragile.

As if afraid to let go.

The station was quiet except for their breathing. The night cold wrapped around them, but Aoi didn't care.

She wasn't letting go.

Not now.

Not ever.

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