I was twelve years old when my story with Yui began, the girl who became the center of my world. We lived in Hangzhou, that ancient city renowned for its beauty and rich history. Yui had just moved to our school; she was a new, remarkable presence that couldn't be ignored. She had eyes like pearls, long silky black hair, and a voice as melodious as music.

I remember the first day I saw her as if it were yesterday. She stood in the schoolyard, smiling shyly and getting to know our classmates. I couldn't take my eyes off her. I felt something strange inside me, a feeling I had never experienced before. Perhaps it was love at first sight.

As days passed, we became friends. We spent our breaks together, laughing and sharing our dreams. Yui dreamed of becoming an architect, building the most beautiful buildings in the world. As for me, I dreamed of staying by her side, being a part of everything she did.

There was a small garden behind our school, a quiet place away from the noise of the world. We would sit there after classes, watching the sunset and talking about everything. Those moments were the most beautiful in my life. We laughed, shared secrets, and dreamed about the future.

We studied together, helped each other with homework, and challenged each other in games. Yui always won, and I loved that about her. She was smart, strong, and full of life. I felt lucky to have her in my life.

But deep in my heart, I knew I wanted more than just friendship. I dreamed of telling her how I felt, of telling her how much I loved her. But I was afraid. Afraid of losing her friendship, afraid of rejection. So, I contented myself with watching her from afar, trying to hide my feelings.

There were moments when Yui would look at me with shining eyes, and I would feel that there was something special between us. But I wasn't sure. I always feared that I might be wrong, that I might be misreading the signs.

One day, as we sat in the garden watching the sunset, she looked at me quietly and asked, "Leo, do you have dreams you want to achieve?"

I smiled and said, "Yes, I have a lot of dreams. But the biggest one is to be with the people I love and see their happiness."

She looked up at the sky and said, "That's beautiful. I think true friends are the greatest gift in life."

I felt warmth in my heart. Those words meant so much to me. I knew I would always be by Yui's side, no matter what. She was my greatest dream, and those little moments we shared together were all I needed.

I didn't know what the future held for us, but I was sure of one thing: Yui was my first love, and I would never forget those beautiful days we spent together. I was ready to do anything for her, to be there when she needed me, and to see her smile light up my world.

As days passed, I knew I needed to let her know how important she was to me. I planned to find the right moment, the moment I could confess all my feelings to her. I wanted to tell her how much I loved her, how much she meant to me.

But life had other plans for us, and I didn't know what fate had in store. I was ready to face anything, as long as I was with Yui. She was the light that illuminated my path, and the hope that gave me strength to face any challenge.

Years passed quickly, and we entered high school. I began to feel subtle changes creeping into my relationship with Yui. We still met at school, talked, and laughed, but things weren't the same as before. Yui started showing interest in other things and other people.

One day, I noticed her talking to a new classmate, Jiang. Jiang was handsome, smart, and charming. She laughed with him the same way she used to laugh with me, maybe even more. I felt something tearing at my heart. Jealousy consumed me from within, but I couldn't express my feelings.

I tried to hide my jealousy and pretend to be happy for her, but I felt like I was losing her. I started seeing her spending more time with Jiang and other friends. I tried to catch her attention in different ways, but the more I tried, the more I felt her slipping away.

One evening, we were sitting in the school garden where we had shared many beautiful moments. I tried to talk to her about my feelings, about my fear of losing her. I said to her with a broken voice, "Yui, I feel like you've changed. I feel like I'm losing you."

She looked at me with her beautiful eyes and said softly, "Leo, you will always be a part of my life. But I need new friends and new experiences. That doesn't mean I don't love you."

Her words were painful, but I tried to understand them. I didn't want to be a burden to her, but I felt like I was no longer as important to her as I used to be.

Jealousy started creeping into my life more and more. Every time I saw her laughing or talking with Jiang, I felt a fire igniting in my chest. I tried to convince myself that I was overreacting, but the feeling of jealousy grew day by day.

One day, I decided to confront Jiang. I knew it wasn't fair to blame him for my feelings, but he was the person I saw taking my place beside Yui. I approached him during break time and said sharply, "Jiang, I need to talk to you."

He looked at me in surprise and said, "Of course, Leo. What do you want to talk about?"

I took a deep breath and said, "Stay away from Yui. She's mine."

Jiang laughed quietly and said, "Leo, we're just friends. I'm not trying to take her away from you."

His words made sense, but I couldn't shake my feelings. Jealousy blinded me and made me think of things that might not even exist.

Things started getting worse. I tried to be by Yui's side, but I felt like she was drifting further away from me. I saw her laughing and smiling with others, and I felt like I was no longer the important person in her life.

One night, I sat alone in my room, thinking about everything. I wondered what had happened? How had things changed so quickly? I felt lost, as if I was losing a part of myself.

I decided to write a letter to Yui, telling her everything I felt. I wrote, "Yui, I can't bear to see all these changes. I feel jealousy and anger, and I don't want to lose you. Please, let's talk."

But I never sent the letter. I was afraid of her reaction, afraid of appearing weak and needy. I tried to maintain my dignity, but I was losing it bit by bit.

Days passed, and Yui became more occupied with her new friends and activities. I felt suffocated, like I was losing control of my life. I didn't know what to do or how to deal with my feelings anymore.

I searched for an outlet, a way to return to the days when we were closer than ever. But deep down, I knew things wouldn't return to how they used to be. I needed to accept reality and deal with my feelings maturely.

I decided to focus on myself, on my studies, and my other friends. I needed to find happiness and contentment in my life apart from Yui. I needed to learn how to live without her and how to be strong and independent.

But deep down, I knew Yui would always be a part of me, a part of my story and my memories. She was my first love, and I would never forget her. I needed to learn how to handle these feelings and find inner peace.

This was the beginning of my journey towards maturity and personal growth. I needed to learn how to be happy on my own, how to find happiness in small things and in the people around me. I needed to learn how to love and give without expectations, and how to be a true friend.

Months passed, and things didn't improve. Yui was distancing herself from me more and more, and our time together became rare. She was busy with her new activities and new friends, especially Jiang, who had become a significant part of her life. I felt myself slowly fading from her world, turning into just a memory.

One day, we were on a school trip to the lake. It was a chance to get away from school and daily pressures, but for me, it was an opportunity to see Yui and Jiang more clearly. I tried to enjoy the trip, but jealousy was eating me up inside.

During that trip, I noticed how Yui interacted with Jiang. She laughed freely with him, talked deeply with him, and seemed genuinely happy. These moments killed me because I knew I was no longer the person who made her smile in that way.

I decided to confront her again, but this time, I was determined to be completely honest. After a long day of activities, Yui and I were sitting by the lake, watching the sunset. I took a deep breath and said, "Yui, I need to talk to you seriously."

She looked at me with her beautiful eyes and said, "Of course, Leo. What is it?"

I said with a voice filled with sadness, "Yui, I love you. I can't deny it anymore. But I feel like I'm losing you. I feel like you're drifting away from me, and I can't bear that."

Yui sighed and said, "Leo, I care about you deeply. But things have changed. We're growing, experiencing new things. That doesn't mean I don't care about you, but I need to live my life in a new way."

Her words were painful, but they were honest. Deep down, I knew I couldn't force her to stay by my side. I had to accept that things were changing, and life was moving on.

After that night, I began to feel the need for change. I needed to focus on myself, my future, and on people who appreciated me. I started engaging in new activities and spending more time with my other friends. I tried to find happiness in small things and in moments I hadn't noticed before.

But despite everything, Yui was always on my mind. Our memories together haunted me, and my feelings for her remained as strong as ever. I needed to learn how to live without her and how to deal with the pain of separation.

One day, I decided to write her one last letter, expressing all my feelings and acknowledging that I understood and accepted the changes. I wrote, "Yui, I love you with all my heart, and I will always cherish the memories we shared. I know things have changed, and I accept that. I wish you happiness and success in your new life."

I wasn't looking for a reply, but I needed to release my feelings and express my love and respect for her. I sent the letter, feeling like I had closed a chapter of my life.

Open Ending

With time, I began to feel better. I focused on my studies and discovered new things about myself. Life was giving me new opportunities, and I was ready to seize them.

I knew that first love is unforgettable, and Yui would always be a part of my heart. But I was learning how to live without her, how to find happiness and contentment in my own life.

This was a new beginning for me, the start of a journey towards maturity and personal growth. I was learning how to love and give without expectations, and how to be a true friend. This journey was full of challenges, but I was ready to face them with strength and determination.

Inevitable Change

I began to see Jiang differently. He wasn't the enemy; he was just another person living his own experience with Yui. I started learning how to accept things as they are and how to leave the past behind while focusing on the present and the future.

I knew that life would bring me more opportunities and experiences, and that I would find love again. I just needed to be patient and trust that things would get better with time.