ellzlikeswriting
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- Parts 12
Everyone thinks Jude Bellingham has everything figured out.
He's surrounded by friends, constantly joking around, and never far from his best friend, Erling. To everyone else, Jude is the loud one. The funny one. The person who somehow turns every group chat into complete chaos.
But lately, something has changed.
Jude is disappearing from plans. His replies are getting shorter. The jokes are becoming less frequent, and whenever someone asks what's wrong, he gives the same answer.
I'm fine.
Erling knows him better than anyone.
He knows Jude isn't fine.
But every attempt to reach him is met with another wall, until one night, after an argument neither of them can take back, Jude says the one thing Erling never thought he'd hear.
Maybe I don't want you in my life anymore.
Then Jude disappears.
The group chat erupts. Friends turn against each other. Everyone blames themselves for not noticing how badly Jude was struggling, while Erling is left wondering whether his best friend ever wanted him around at all.
As secrets come to light and emotions reach breaking point, Jude has to face the truth he's been running from.
He can't keep pretending he's okay.
And Erling has to learn that loving someone doesn't mean you can fix everything for them.
Sometimes, all you can do is stay.
Because the hardest things to say are often the ones that matter most.
And sometimes, the people who seem the happiest are the ones who are hurting the most.