Without You

Chapter 21

"If the whole world was watching I'd still dance with you
Drive highways and byways to be there with you"

~This Town~

Play "This Town" by Niall Horan

The evening unfolded in a quiet rhythm as we made our way out of the college. My destination was clear, a place where I could spend more time with him, only him, seeking solace in the comforting silence between us. Breaking the quietude, I suggested, "Shall we go to the library?"

"Yeah, that's a great idea," he replied, and his hand warmly embraced mine as we strolled down the cold road to the parking area, to get his car.

Once inside, we replicated our clandestine retreat to a dark corner, escaping the vigilant eyes of the watchmen for another night of shared quietude.

As the clock on the library wall ticked, his deep voice resonated with the words of the novel 'The Fall.' Despite its romantic nature, the novel delved into deep and sometimes melancholic chapters, offering a blend of emotions that mirrored the complexities of our unspoken connection. The hours passed into midnight, and the library became our sanctuary, the silent witness to the unfolding chapters of our shared solitude.

"Hey, sorry for the interruption. What about taking a break?" I interjected, cutting through the narrative of the novel.

"Why not? Let's have some fresh air," he agreed. Without hesitation, we rose from our seats and made our way to a secret backdoor known only to Sheldon. "Let me take you to a wonderful place," he chuckled, guiding me up the dark, empty stairs of the building in the middle of the night.

Reaching the terrace, the town lay beneath us, a tapestry of dim lights in the night. "It's one of my favorite places," he shared, taking a seat on the floor, and I joined him. "This is wonderful," I replied, my eyes captivated by the unique beauty of the place.

The night sky was an awe-inspiring canvas adorned with sparkling stars, forming constellations that whispered tales of the cosmos. Sheldon laid down, his face turned towards the sky, and I followed suit. His hands shielded my head from the cold concrete floor, and in that strange beauty, I found warmth beside him. His gleaming eyes were pointed toward the sky, as he was gazing at the stars, while mine were fixed on him only. Gazing at his pure face was far better than any stargazing.

"You know, I believed that my mom lived in that polar star, she was watching me from that distance," he confessed, bridging the silent gap between us.

"What happened to her?" I inquired, turning my gaze to him with genuine curiosity.

"She passed away, years ago, when I was five" he revealed.

"Sorry, but how? You said that your mom lives in Canada?" I questioned.

"That's my stepmom. My Dad married again, started a new family, and sent me here" he confessed.

"I... I'm sorry to hear that, I understand your grief," I apologized, snuggling into his arms as he wrapped them around me. Despite the outward appearance of acting like friends, in reality, we were more than friends, harboring secret affection for each other.

"Same case with mine. I don't even know how and where my Dad is. How is his new family treating him. Sometimes it seems like I miss him," I revealed, and my mind returned to those painful memories.

"Why didn't you try to contact him?" he queried, his interest in my backstory piqued as he turned himself in my direction. Now we were facing each other, we were so close that we could exchange each other's warm breaths.