That night, Regina dreamed of her grandfather.
They were sitting on the porch swing again, the way they used to. His voice was gentle, eyes full of quiet wisdom.
"You don't know what to choose?" he said, rocking them both slowly. "Then try everything, my girl. Life doesn't come with answers—only moments. So take them. All of them."
When she woke up, the sunlight felt too bright. And her phone screen showed "Read 2:18 a.m." Connor had seen her message. But didn't reply.
And by noon, even the "read" receipts stopped showing up.
Regina tried not to panic. Maybe his phone was dead. Maybe he was busy. Maybe—anything. But excuses turned to days. Days turned to a week.
She still sent messages.
Good morning. Are you okay?
Please just say something.
But nothing came back. So she did the only thing that made her feel remotely okay: She pulled out the Walkman.
Here Comes the Sun played again and again, crackling gently through the headphones. Each time the lyrics said "It's alright," she whispered it out loud.
It's alright. It's not.
It's alright. I'm breaking.
It's alright. He promised.
She cried until her cheeks ached and her eyes stung.
She fell asleep with the music still looping in her ears.
Julian was sitting beside her, he noticed.
He didn't push or ask. He just sat beside her when no one else would. Sometimes he passed her tissues. Sometimes he told dumb jokes to make her smile. And sometimes, he just said, "You don't have to be strong every day, you know."
Regina didn't realize how much she needed that—someone who stayed.
Even when she didn't have anything left to give.
One afternoon, Mandy pulled Regina aside behind the art building, voice low.
"I didn't want to be the one to say this," she began, "but… Connor went to France. Study abroad. Left last week."
Regina's heart thudded.
"What?"
"He didn't tell you," Mandy added gently. "He said if he did… you wouldn't let him go. Or maybe he wouldn't be able to leave."
Regina felt the world spin, like the ground had yanked itself out from under her.
He left. And never said goodbye.
Of course he didn't. Because wolves don't say goodbye.
They vanish into the night—
Quiet. And cruel in their silence.