EX-istential Crisis

Chapter 1: The Breakup

Nelly sat on his bed, the dim light of his room casting shadows on the walls. He held his phone tightly, staring at the last message from Miro Emberly. They had talked on the phone just yesterday, her voice echoing in his mind.

"I promise I'll always be here for you," she had said, her laughter warming his heart. "You're my everything."

But that promise had shattered the moment he saw her with someone else.

Flashbacks
Nelly had been excited, eager even, as he made his way to surprise her. He had dressed his best, a bouquet of flowers in one hand and a box of chocolates in the other. The plan was simple—show up, surprise her, and maybe even talk about their future. After all, they had talked about it many times during their long-distance relationship.

But as he neared the park where they often met, something felt off. He spotted her sitting on a bench. At first, a smile crept onto his face, but that smile faded as he noticed she wasn't alone. A guy sat beside her, and not just beside her—she was leaning her head against his shoulder, her hand intertwined with his.

Nelly froze. His mind screamed at him to turn around, to leave before he could see more. But his legs wouldn't move. He watched as they laughed together, completely oblivious to the world around them. His grip tightened around the bouquet, his knuckles turning white as he forced himself to take a step forward, then another.

Finally, Miro noticed him. Her eyes widened in shock, her body stiffening as if she had been caught in a lie. The guy turned to look at Nelly as well, but Nelly's eyes were locked onto hers.

"Miro?" His voice was barely a whisper, drowned out by the sudden downpour that began to fall from the sky. The flowers slipped from his hands, landing in a muddy puddle, the chocolates falling beside them.

For a moment, neither of them moved. Nelly could feel the rain mixing with the tears that were already building in his eyes. He turned away, unable to stand the sight of her anymore. Every step felt heavier than the last, his heart breaking with each one.

As he walked, the rain soaked him to the bone, but he didn't care. His mind raced with memories of their time together—how much he had trusted her, how much he had loved her. It all felt meaningless now.

Back from Reality

The pain felt raw, and now, all he could do was replay their final conversation over and over.

"Thank you for everything, Miro. I'm really grateful for the time we had," he had said, trying to sound strong. But inside, he was crumbling.

As he packed away the last of her letters, he felt a deep sense of loss. He remembered the warmth of her mom's voice, the way they had bonded over late-night chats about their dreams. Miro's mom lived on another island, but she had always treated him like part of the family.

Phone Call with Miro's Mom

His phone buzzed with a message. It was Miro's mom checking in, concerned after their last conversation.

"Hey, Nelly! How are you holding up?"

He sighed, his fingers hovering over the screen as he typed back. "Just trying to figure things out, I guess. It's hard without her."

"Remember, you can always talk to me. I'm here for you. You're like family to me," she replied, her words filled with warmth.

"Thank you. I just wish I could understand why she left..."

"Sometimes, love takes unexpected turns. You did everything you could for Miro, and I'm proud of you for that. Just know that you deserve someone who truly values you."

He nodded to himself, tears threatening to spill. "I know. I just thought we had something real."

Later that evening, Nelly found himself wandering aimlessly in the rain, the cold droplets mixing with his sorrow. Each step felt heavier, weighed down by memories he couldn't shake. Why did she leave?