I KNOW THE END, c.palmer

00

BEFORE

The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm, golden glow over everything. The air was cool, a gentle breeze rustling the leaves of the old oak trees that lined the park. Cole and Olivia walked side by side along the familiar path, their footsteps in sync as they soaked in the beauty of the sunset.

"Remember when we used to race to that old oak tree?" Cole asked, kicking a small pebble along the path, his hands stuffed in his pockets.

Olivia smiled, her eyes reflecting the fading light. "You always let me win," she replied, nudging him playfully with her shoulder.

"Not always," Cole protested with a grin. "You got faster every year."

They walked in comfortable silence for a moment, the only sounds around them being the rustle of leaves and the distant chatter of other park-goers.

"I can't believe how beautiful it is tonight," Olivia said, her eyes fixed on the horizon. The sky was a canvas of pinks, oranges, and purples, each colour blending seamlessly into the next.

"Yeah," Cole replied, his voice a mix of admiration and something else-something more serious. He glanced at Olivia, taking in her profile as she gazed at the sunset. He knew this moment was about to change everything.

They reached their favourite spot by the small lake that laid in the centre of the park, the sunset reflecting off of the waters surface. They sat down on the bench, Olivia still captivated by the sky's display. Cole took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves.

"Liv," he began, his voice betraying the nervousness he felt. Olivia turned to him, a smile playing on her lips.

"Yeah?" she said, her eyes sparking with curiosity.

"There's something I need to tell you," he said, his tone serious. The smile faded from Olivia's face as she sensed the gravity of his words.

"Okay," she replied, her voice soft. "What is it?"

Cole turned away from Olivia, glancing across the horizon, the sun dipping lower, casting long shadows across the park.

"I've been signed by Chelsea," he said finally, the words hanging in the air. "I'm moving to London."

For a moment, the world seemed to stand still. Olivia's eyes widened, and she blinked as if trying to process the information. "You're... moving to London?" she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Yeah, it's a huge opportunity for me," Cole nodded, watching her closely. "A chance to make a name for myself in the prem."

Olivia's initial shock gave way to a complicated mix of emotions. She was happy for him, genuinely, but underneath that happiness was a profound sense of loss. They had grown up together, shared countless memories, and now he was leaving.

"I'm so happy for you, Cole," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "But I'm still supporting City," she joked, trying to ease the tension that quickly settled between them.

Cole chuckled. "Of course."

Olivia couldn't hide the glimmer of tears that welled up in her eyes as she thought about him leaving. Cole noticed and gently wiped a tear from her cheek with his thumb.

"It's not like I'm disappearing, Liv," he said softly, lowering his arm so it rested against the back of the bench. "Londons not that far."

"I know," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "But it won't be the same."

Cole looked at her with sympathy. Olivia's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. She knew this was a great opportunity for Cole, but the thought of losing their daily interactions, their late night walks, and just having him in her presence weighed heavily on her heart.

"Promise me one thing," she said softly.

"Yeah?" Cole asked.

"Promise me we won't lose touch. No matter how busy you get, promise me we'll always be there for each other."

Cole looked into her eyes, his heart aching at the thought of leaving her behind. "I promise, Liv. Always."

They sat there for a moment longer, the world around them fading into the background. In that instant, they both knew that their friendship was about to be tested like never before. But they also knew that some bonds were unbreakable, no matter the distance.

But as they watched the sun finish setting, both of them couldn't help but wonder if some distances were just too great to bridge.