Between love and life

The rain fell softly drumming against the rooftop as Advika and Reyansh stood under the college's old stone archway, the world beyond them blurred in a mist of silver drops. She wrapped her arms around herself, shivering slightly, but not from the cold. It was the closeness, the silence between them that made her heart race.

"I don't know how to love anymore," Advika confessed, her voice barely a whisper, eyes fixed on the rain. "Every time I get close to someone, they leave."

Reyansh stood beside her, his quiet presence grounding her. He hadn't said a word since they took shelter from the storm, but now, he turned to face her, his gaze soft, almost tender.

"I'm not them, Advika," he said, voice low but steady. "I won't leave."

His words hung between them, heavy with meaning. She looked up, meeting his eyes-deep, kind, and unwavering. For the first time in a long time, she felt her walls crack, ever so slightly.

Reyansh took a step closer, reaching out. His fingers brushed against hers, warm and gentle, and for a moment, the world stopped. She didn't pull away.

"You don't have to believe me now," he murmured. "But I'll stay until you do."