Lia sat by the large window of her bedroom, the world outside painted in shades of orange and pink as the sun began to set. The soft glow illuminated her face, her eyes distant and unfocused. No matter how hard she tried to keep herself busy, the past always found a way to creep back into her mind.
Memories. Sweet, beautiful, yet haunting memories.
She closed her eyes, letting herself fall into the warmth of nostalgia. The laughter of three friends echoed in her ears, their carefree days of youth wrapped in light-hearted jokes and endless dreams.
"Lia, you can't just eat all the fries!" Ryan laughed, trying to snatch the bowl away from her.
"Watch me!" Lia grinned, shoving a handful into her mouth before dodging his hand.
Elina giggled from the side, her laughter like delicate chimes. "You two are such kids. Honestly."
"Says the one who couldn't survive without her candy stash," Lia shot back, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
Elina blushed, holding her purse protectively. "That's different!"
Those days were so simple, so pure. The three of them were inseparable, bonded by the kind of friendship that made the world seem bright and beautiful. Ryan's kindness, Elina's gentle teasing, and her own boldness complemented each other perfectly.
But somewhere along the line, everything had changed.
Lia remembered the day Ryan confessed his feelings for Elina. It was no secret that he had always admired her, his eyes shining a little brighter whenever she was around. And Elina, despite her usual hesitations, eventually admitted her own feelings for him.
Lia had smiled then. A smile she had perfected over the years. One that hid the ache clawing at her heart.
The rain outside brought her back to the present, the droplets tapping against the glass like tiny fingers.
Their friendship had survived even after Ryan and Elina's relationship began. But now, with Ryan's cold behavior and the loneliness gnawing at her soul, she wondered if those precious days were gone forever.
A soft knock on her door pulled her from her thoughts.
"Lia, dinner's ready," Ryan's voice sounded from the other side, his tone distant and formal.
"Coming," she replied, her voice steady even though her heart felt anything but.
As she stood up and looked at her reflection in the mirror, Lia forced herself to smile. Because that's what she always did. She smiled, even when her heart was shattering.