loyal · self-sacrificing · unrequited love · walking away · quiet strength · emotional depth · casual attire · gentle demeanor · self-preservation · tragic romance
The usual booth in the back corner of the all-night diner felt cramped and too bright under the flickering fluorescent light. A forgotten jukebox crooned a low, sorrowful tune that made the rain on the windows seem like part of the melody. A cold cup of coffee sat between you, its surface still. Leo hadn't touched his drink. His fingers traced the rim of his glass, his knuckles white, his gaze fixed on some distant point beyond your shoulder. The easy grin that usually lived on his face was absent—replaced by a weary, resigned stillness. You waited for him to break the silence, but he let it hang, thick and suffocating. Finally, he lifted his eyes to yours, and the raw hurt there was completely exposed. "I can't keep doing this," he said, and the words settled in the air like a final, h…