I let out a soft breath, feeling the heavy knot in my chest loosen just a fraction under his steady gaze. A small, defeated smile tugged at my lips. "Okay... if you say so. I'll try."
We resumed walking, the silence creeping back in after a moment. Realizing the awkwardness was settling over us again, Luca quickly spoke up, clearly trying to divert my mind and steer me away from the anxiety of the gossiping classmates.
"So, what time is your train scheduled to arrive?" he asked, glancing over at me.
I pulled my phone out of my pocket and tapped the screen to check the transit app. "It should be here in about thirty minutes."
"Do you think you can make it to the station in time?"
"Yes, obviously," I answered, offering a more confident nod. "I can easily make it."
"Good," Luca said approvingly.
"What about you?" I asked, looking up at him. "When does your train come?"
A slight grimace crossed his features. "Actually, I'm not catching a train right away. Remember those student council duties I mentioned? I have a mandatory meeting at the council room now, so I have to head back in that direction. Because of that, I'll be taking a much later train home tonight."
"Oh," I murmured, my expression falling slightly. "So you're going to be late getting back again. Will you even make it to college tomorrow?"
Luca shrugged slightly. "I'm not entirely sure yet. Let's see, if something urgent pops up at the council, I might have to skip. But if I can wrap everything up tonight, I'll be there. It's up in the air right now."
"Okay," I said quietly. "I'll text you later, then."
"Sure," Luca replied with a warm smile. "I'll reply whenever I can."
As we rounded the next corner, I noticed the familiar street signs and landmarks. Our brief five-minute shared route was coming to an end; the path where our directions split off was just a few yards ahead.
A quiet bittersweetness washed over me. I stopped walking, turning to face him as we reached the parting of our ways.
"Well... looks like our shared walk is ending here," I said softly, offering a small wave. "Let's see what happens tomorrow, then. Goodbye, Luca."
Luca smiled and waved back. "Goodbye, Iris. Get home safely."
With a final nod, we turned around and headed down our separate paths.
I made it to the station with time to spare, my breath puffing slightly in the cool evening air. The train hadn't pulled in yet, so I waited quietly on the platform, tapping my foot until the familiar rumble of the engine echoed down the tracks. As soon as the doors slid open, I hurried inside, claimed a window seat, and pulled out my phone and earphones.
Sliding the earbuds into my ears, I hit play on my favorite playlist. As the music washed over me, drowning out the ambient noise of the carriage, my mind drifted back to the afternoon.
I sat there replaying every single moment of the day in my head. Looking back, it felt surreal. When I woke up that morning, fighting off the dread of the traffic and dreading the usual college routine, I never could have imagined how everything would turn out. I had stepped entirely out of my comfort zone, befriended a circle of wonderfully eccentric girls, explored a vibrant festival, and even shared a quiet, nerve-wracking walk with Luca. It had turned into one of the most memorable days of my life.
A warm, bubbly feeling swelled inside my chest, drawing a wide, genuine smile across my face. I was so lost in the happy memory that I didn't realize how the corners of my mouth were curling up, until I noticed a couple of passengers sitting across the aisle staring at me strangely.
My eyes widened slightly. Oh no.
Panic flickered through me. I quickly straightened my posture, schooling my expression into a neutral mask. What are you doing, Iris? You're sitting in the middle of a public train grinning like a lunatic to yourself. They're going to think you've completely lost your mind!
Desperately trying to school my features, I kept my eyes fixed straight ahead for the rest of the ride, though a quiet joy still lingered under my skin.
When the train finally reached my stop, I walked the remaining blocks home, slipping quietly through the front door. The house was dark and still. Slipping off my shoes, I walked straight to my room, sat down on the edge of my bed, and pulled out my phone again to look at the photos we had snapped at the festival.
As I scrolled through the bright, candid pictures of laughter, art stalls, and my new friends, a deep wave of happiness washed over me all over again. I wanted nothing more than to jump up, run down the hall, and tell my mother all about it. I wanted to hear her laugh, see her smile, and share every single detail of how I finally started stepping out into the world.
But the room remained dead silent.
The warmth in my chest slowly hollowed out, replaced by a sudden, heavy ache. The reality of the empty house settled over me like a cold blanket. There was no one here to share it with. If my mother were still alive, she would have held my hands, listened to every word with shining eyes, and been happier for me than anyone else.
Staring down at the glowing screen, a quiet tear slipped down my cheek as the loneliness crept back in, reminding me of all the pieces of my life she wasn't here to see.