@LeonelStyle 19 April 2025 more from that month

She Left Without Knowing That I Loved Her **Introduction:** This is a story about what was never said. About the love that arrived, stayed... and left in silence. Mateus and Celma met where everything seemed calm — but what they lived was anything but peace. **Chapter 1: The Colors That the Sun Hides** The park looked the same — the tall trees, the distant sound of birds, the lake reflecting the sunset like a broken mirror of memories. But for Mateus, nothing was the same. It was the same place where, months earlier, he and Celma had created something he never fully understood... something he now knew had been love. Sitting on the wooden bench, the wind carrying the light scent of flowers, he closed his eyes and let himself be carried away by memories. He remembered when he first saw her right there. She was barefoot, laughing to herself at something she was reading in a book. He sat near her, pretending to read too, but spent more time watching her than anything else. Over time, the meetings in the park became a habit. Conversations about everything and nothing. Laughter. Comfortable silences. But he never said what he felt. Out of fear. Out of cowardice. And now... now she was leaving. That night, he couldn't sleep. The words he had swallowed for so long were suffocating him. He needed to speak. Even if it was too late. **Chapter 2: The Last Goodbye** The sun had barely risen when Mateus arrived at Celma's house. Her suitcase was already packed on the porch. The travel car was parked out front. His heart was pounding like a furious drum inside his chest. The door opened, and she appeared, surprised, with tired eyes, but always beautiful. — Mateus...? What are you doing here? He took a deep breath, as if pulling courage from the very ground. — I... I needed to say it. I couldn't let you leave without knowing. I love you, Celma. Since that day in the park. I’ve always loved you... I was just afraid of ruining everything. But now I know... it was worse not to say it. She stayed silent. And in that moment, he had hope. But then, she looked away. The light in her eyes turned to sadness. — I loved you too, Mateus... for so long. I waited for these words for months. But you never said anything. I started to think it was only me. And now... — her voice faltered — now it's too late. At that moment, a man appeared behind her, stepping out of the house. Tall, dark, with a calm smile. — Is everything okay, love? Who is he? She hesitated. Mateus's world seemed to spin. — This is Mateus — she said, with a weak voice. — An... old friend. Mateus, this is Oliver. My boyfriend. We're going on a trip together. Mateus couldn’t respond. The pain in his chest was real, as if something had broken inside. He just nodded, trying to smile, trying to be strong. She said goodbye with her eyes. But he knew... that was the end of a story that never began.