The skies were painted in the hues of a sunset's glow.

The mailman delivered a letter from Acoiclya. Alexis eagerly tore it open.

Yet within, there were no cordial greetings or tender sentiments, only a few frigid lines. He wrote that the world beyond was vast, and he'd decided not to return. He said he intended to remain in Acoiclya. He also said he'd met some more people and started thinking that they ought to reconsider their situation. He said maybe they were never the most suitable match to begin with.

Alexis set that letter on fire.

From that moment on, a void remained in her heart.

Even though she had shared her bed with Leonel the previous night, the hole in her heart didn't go away. Some wounds just couldn't be healed merely through apologies or physical intimacy.

Leonel hadn't ruined her life.

There was one thing he did. He had only shattered her heart.

She empathized with Calvin's agony. She didn't want him to become another version of herself, forever mired in hopeless waiting. She'd rather he harbored resentment toward her than remain perpetually confused.

It was only then that Alexis finally conceded.

Even though she no longer loved Leonel, he was still the only one in her life.

He was a presence no one else could replace.

How could she convey all of that to Calvin? She tenderly stroked his silken hair and whispered, "Calvin, two wounded souls just can't be together. They can never mend each other. One will recover and leave once they're healed. Then, what about the one left behind?"

Calvin clung to her fervently.

"I'll never leave you! Not ever."

Alexis felt tears welling up.

Just then, footsteps echoed at the door, and soon, Leonel stood there.

In silence, he watched Alexis and Calvin locked in a tight embrace.

The air hung heavy and still.

Leonel's face was void of any emotion as he gazed at Alexis, who was in the arms of someone else. Time seemed to crawl as he finally spoke in a hoarse whisper.