It's okay to grieve over the person they used to be.

She's still here, yet it doesn't feel like it. They've shared an entire lifetime together. So how can she just forget about us? Who we used to be?

...

Who she used to be, they were never together. Then why does it feel like they were?

When he thinks about her, his mind fixates on them. But what were they?

Josh knew from the start this would only end up being a stupid crush. That the outcome would be the same, no matter how hard he wished for it to be different. Though he still thinks he could've done more. Saved her from becoming the person she was today.

It's cruel to think she needs saving, if this is who she wanted to be, he'd learn to love her just the same.

But he couldn't.

As the lines start to blur, he wonders if she's always been this way. Of course she had; people don't change overnight.

At one point, they must've had something. The thought of her leading him on made his mouth feel dry. They were more than just friends, but not for long before they were strangers.

He doesn't know her anymore, but he'll always miss her.

The girl that he knew.

It'll never be easy to forget her, yet it will be to forget him. So why does he act like it's different? Why hold onto someone who isn't holding onto him?

He ponders over this a lot. How come it was so hard to let go of someone who was never his?

It remains unanswered. For the best, he assumes.

That would change the moment his grazed knuckles rapped against the hardwood door. Part of him believed that he didn't need an explanation, the other part longs for one.

What he's presented with is silence from the inside. Good, he doesn't want her to answer.

Yet she does.

It won't be the same, staring into her icy blue eyes, missing the spark that they once bore.

The look she offers him isn't an inviting one but it's one he grew accustomed to seeing.

"What?"

Everything is different. Except the way she makes him feel.

"I know you don't want to, but can we talk?"

"Even if we do, nothing will change. So why do we bother?"

He knows that his attempts are pathetic, but he still yearns for something. Anything.

"I missed you." It's obvious, she knows he does.

"Is it really that easy to move on from me? Forget everything we had?"

"What did we have?"

She can't meet his gaze; he doesn't know. Do either of them? He'd had these feelings for as long as they'd met, yet they were never reciprocated.

"We had something. We must've. Why else would you have stayed?"

There's a pause, he watches her bite back a reply before confessing.

"I don't know."

"Me either. I just feel like things have changed. I miss it. I miss you."

Nothing will be the same. Her expression darkens after the revelation.

"Nothing changed, I just gained popularity, so I had to leave who I was behind. I'm still her, as much as I don't want to be."

"It's not the same."

Though it's hard to grasp, she understands. His feelings wouldn't change her, though she sensed he wished they could.

"Is that all?"

"I just want to know if it was love. What we had. You felt it, too?"

They were both unsure. Conflicting feelings rushed around inside of her head, because did she?

"I think so. Even if it was just for a moment."

The confirmations were all he needed. A small smile tugged on the corners of his lips since the feeling was mutual.

"I'm glad you felt that way, even for just a little while."

She hums in acknowledgement, gazing up at the lost, teal eyes that were once filled with hope. For a future they could've had.

In another lifetime, perhaps she'd consider it. Just for a bit.

He'd wait for her forever.

"I thought this was purely one-sided, but-

"No, it still is." She's quick to cut him off, there's no use leading him on. "It always was. I can't feel the same way you do towards me, I never will."

"You could've."

"Maybe." She'd never thought of him in that way until they were together. The moment was brief, yet they never parted, since they were never intertwined to begin with.

"You know, I always felt like this would be our ending."

"Was there ever a beginning?"

"Even so, if I could, I'd go back and do it all over. Just to be with you."

There's nothing she could say. There could've been, but there wasn't.

"I've spent so long loving you, I don't think I'll stop."

"You don't have to." She offers, "Even if we won't be together, I'm glad we spent time with each other."

It's hard to tell if she's genuine. Yet the part of him that can't let her go believes it. He's glad they were together, for a fraction of their life.

"Thank you." Nothing that he says will be enough. There's no way for him to compress every thought he had of her into words.

It's the stillness that follows which he savours. The quietness between them is peaceful, rather than what it is usually.

"I love you."

The silence is only broken by his confession. It's a welcome one, as Blaineley offers another knowing nod, her fingers clasping on the door that separates them.

"I know. If it's any consolation, I don't think I'll forget you."

He lets out a soft chuckle. He almost allows himself to believe her. Almost.

"I doubt it. But...that helps, yeah."

She doesn't pull away for merely seconds, their eyes locked onto each other. He treasures the moment.

In another life.

As quickly as it came, it left. With a slam of the door, Josh is hit back to reality.

He takes solace in the clear, radiant sky. Everything had to come to an end eventually.

If there ever was a beginning.