The morning of my departure arrives, and the house feels heavy with unspoken emotions. Everyone is gathered outside to see me off—my parents, uncle, aunt, and cousins. 

The chill of winter bites at my skin, but I barely feel it. Rafa is standing there too, but she doesn’t look at me. 

Her silence mirrors the tension I feel in the air, but I try to keep my face calm.

My mom hugs me tightly, whispering a few words of advice and encouragement in my ear, while my dad hands me a little extra money, just in case. 

Their love is evident, even though neither of them shows it openly. I hug them both back, trying to absorb the warmth I know I’ll miss once I’m gone.

Then, Rafa’s mom steps forward. She wraps me in a soft, motherly embrace, her voice gentle. 

“Take care of yourself. And don’t forget to eat properly.”

She slips a small amount of money into my hand—an old family habit—and gives me a knowing smile. 

I thank her, feeling a lump form in my throat as I hold onto the moment a little longer.

Rafa’s father, who is still recovering but managing to stand, gives me a firm handshake. His eyes show gratitude and something more—a silent understanding. 

“Take care of yourself in the city, Azer. And don’t worry about us. I’ll be back to full strength soon.”

'Please take care of your health, uncle,' 

I say, my voice steady, though my chest tightens with emotion. 

'We’re all praying for you.'

He gives me a nod, and I can see the pride in his eyes, though he doesn’t say anything more.

And then, it happens. I turn to Swappan, and he greets me with his usual carefree grin, breaking the somber mood. 

The jokes come naturally, a lighthearted break from the heaviness of goodbye. We exchange some banter, teasing each other about life in the city, and for a moment, everything feels normal. 

As I laugh with Swappan, out of the corner of my eye, I see Rafa approaching. 

She’s hesitant, her cheeks slightly flushed. When she finally stands in front of me, her eyes still avoid mine, but there’s something in the air between us—an unspoken connection we can’t deny.

She speaks softly, her voice barely above a whisper. 

“I... I just wanted to say goodbye. I’ll be leaving for school in two days.”

I nod, trying to keep my composure. 

'Yeah, I heard. Different cities for both of us, huh?'

“Yeah,”

 she says, finally glancing up for just a second before looking away again. 

There’s an awkward pause, the kind that feels like there’s more we should say but neither of us knows how. 

'It’s going to be weird... not having you around.'

She nods again, her fingers fidgeting. 

“Yeah... it’s already weird.”

We both laugh awkwardly, the tension still lingering, but somehow it feels comforting too. 

We’ve both changed, and this is just another shift we have to deal with. There’s more I want to say, but I can’t find the words.

“Well, take care,” 

she says softly. 

“And... don’t forget what we talked about.”

I give her a small, tight-lipped smile. 

'I won’t.'

I reply, the weight of our last conversation hanging between us.

Before she can step away, I add, 

'If you need any help... just call me, okay? Don’t be shy.'

Rafa looks up at me, her eyes briefly meeting mine, and there’s a flicker of something in her expression—gratitude, or maybe relief. 

“Okay,” she says, her voice almost a whisper.

We share a brief, almost awkward smile. It’s not much, but it feels like an important moment, a promise hanging silently in the air between us.

For a second, I think she might say something more, but she steps back instead, slipping away into the background. 

The moment feels heavy, yet fragile.

As I get into the car, pulling away from the house, my mind races. I can’t stop thinking about Rafa, her voice, her hesitation, her presence. 

I make a silent promise to myself: I will do my best, work harder than ever, and when the time comes, no one will stand before me. 

I will be the one to approach her and ask for her hand when we are both ready. 

This feeling, yes this is what people call LOVE.