Sofie

Chapter -1

SOMETIMES, YOU CANT SAY IT , JUST FEEL IT 

"Meow, meow, meow, meow!"

The cat hummed, her eyes fixated on her reflection in the window, but it wasn't her reflection she seemed to be watching.

In the glass, a scene played out.

A man stood in the middle of a grocery store , wearing a white shirt and black shorts. His gaze locked on the shelves lined with soft drinks, the colorful labels almost mocking him. He shifted from one foot to another, clearly struggling to make a decision.

Lost in thought, he barely noticed the front door swing open. Alfred, a familiar classmate from his psychology class, stepped in with a smirk.

"Michael, still picking drinks?" he said, raising an eyebrow.

Michael sighed, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand. I'm almost there, man. It's just... these choices. They're so

Confusing?

Alfred cut him off, chuckling as he approached the cooler. "So, what's up with you? Long day after graduation? Tell me what you're doing right now. No offense, but are you still in that relationship?"

Michael gave a sheepish smile. "Yeah, well... it's a long story."

Alfred leaned against a shelf, arms folded. "Then give me the short version."

Michael, looking at the brightly coloured drinks.

"It all happened on the last day of college. Everyone was saying their goodbyes, making plans for the future, and I don't even have a pla."

In the doorway, Kate looked adorable in her graduation coat, the fabric dressing elegantly over her figure. Her hair flowed around her face in soft waves, messy by the wind, like Jennifer Aniston's from friends. her eyes; they sparkled with unshed tears, evidence of her recent pain.

He paused, his gaze softening as the memory flooded back.

"Kate smiled at me. She was dealing with so much herself her sister had just passed, and you could see it in her eyes. That sadness... it almost crushed me." He rubbed the back of his neck, his voice dipping. "I couldn't let her leave like that."

Alfred leaned in; his expression was serious now. "Yeah, I remember. She was struggling. Barely ate anything."

Michael nodded. "Everyone else was celebrating, and I just saw her standing there, looking so small. She was always full of life, but that day... it was different." His voice drops back , and he let out a deep breath. "I couldn't leave her alone."

Alfred smiled, trying to lighten the mood. "You're always the hero, huh?"

Michael smiled. "We ended up grabbing drinks after. She had no one left. Her sis was all she had."

Alfred clapped his hands, breaking the tension.

"Okay, okay, no more drama. Get to the point, Mike," he said, a grin creeping back on his face.

"We picked out some beers, and then we talked. She opened up about her sister. It felt... important," Michael said.

"I couldn't tell if she was just sad or if it was about everything else."

Alfred shook his head, "Sounds heavy. Not the best time for small talk, huh?"

"Then what?" Alfred pressed, leaning forward with interest.