Shadows Beneath the Northern Sky

The Unfortunate News

Weeks passed, and Daniel's life fell into an even darker rhythm. The news hit him harder than he expected, and he couldn't shake the feeling of disgust—not toward Clara, but toward himself. He had built up this silent hope in his mind, thinking maybe, just maybe, something could happen between them. But when he found out that she was already in a relationship, and not just any relationship—she was dating a military guy, someone no one had even known about until recently—his heart sank.

It was as if the universe had conspired against him, mocking him for daring to hope. Daniel hated himself for even thinking he had a chance. The disappointment was crushing, like a weight pressing down on his chest every time he thought about it.

He remembered the day he saw them together, the moment that cemented his misery. He had been leaving the library, walking through the courtyard, when he saw Clara standing near the entrance, laughing and talking with a tall guy in uniform. She looked happy—radiantly happy—and the sight of her leaning into him, comfortable and at ease, made Daniel's stomach twist.

The guy must have been there to pick her up. Daniel stood frozen for a moment, watching them, his heart sinking further as the realization washed over him. He turned on his heel and walked away, ignoring everything around him, trying to block out the image of her with someone else. From that day on, he avoided her as much as he could.

---

One evening. 

"I'm really sorry, man," Mark had said when they met up later in the week. They were sitting on a bench outside campus, the sky above them dimming as the sun set. "I didn't know about the military guy. No one did."

Daniel didn't respond at first. He just stared ahead, watching students mill about the campus, going about their lives, unaware of the storm inside him.

"You good?" Mark asked, clearly feeling guilty. He had been pushing Daniel to make a move for weeks, and now it all felt like some sick joke.

Daniel finally shrugged, his voice flat. "Yeah. Doesn't matter now, does it?"

Mark sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Still, man... that sucks. I wouldn't have pushed you if I knew."

Daniel didn't answer. In truth, he wasn't angry at Mark. He was angry at himself. Angry for being so foolish, for thinking he could somehow change his life by getting close to someone like Clara. It was laughable, really.

"You don't care anymore, huh?" Mark asked, trying to gauge Daniel's mood.

"I care," Daniel said quietly, his voice thick with frustration. "I care too much. That's the problem."

Mark shifted uncomfortably, sensing that Daniel didn't want to talk about it anymore. "Alright," he muttered, "but if you ever want to—"

"I won't," Daniel interrupted, standing up abruptly. "I just want to forget about it."

And forget about it he tried. But the more he tried to distance himself from her, the more it seemed impossible. Clara, with her energy and warmth, was always around, always present in one way or another. Whether it was seeing her laugh with friends, catching glimpses of her in the hallway, or overhearing her in conversations, Daniel couldn't escape the constant reminder that she was there. But now, she felt more out of reach than ever.

---

In the months that followed, Daniel withdrew even further. He avoided group gatherings, skipped the cafeteria, and took routes that would guarantee he wouldn't run into her. He stopped sitting in the back of the lecture hall where they had once shared the same space, opting instead for the far corners of the room, hidden away.