The cafeteria was bustling with people, but Clara felt completely isolated. As always, she sat by the window, observing the blur of faces. Then, she spotted him.
Liam.
He wasn’t bold or attention-seeking…. just quiet, like her, while sketching in worn notebook.
But the contrast was undeniable. Liam, in his quiet way, was always met with genuine smiles, a connection she could only long for.
She had learned long ago that seeking connection was a gamble. It was safer to watch from a distance, shielding herself behind walls of quiet solitude.
Yet, something in Liam’s focused expression, a flicker of familiarity, drew her in. She hesitated, fingers twisting the edge of her notebook.
Finally, she stepped closer. “That’s a nice drawing.” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
Liam looked up, his eyes widening slightly. “Oh, thanks..” he said, a slow smile forming. “Just some ideas, really.“
He shifted, making room for her. Clara sat, heart pounding. Anticipating the usual brief acknowledgment and polite dismissal.
But Liam didn’t ignore her. Instead, he showed her his sketches, spoke about his love for art, and shared his quiet observations of the world.
Days passed into weeks, and Clara found herself laughing, sharing secrets, and feeling a warmth she hadn’t realized was possible. But she couldn’t shake the quiet fear that it was temporary, that Liam would eventually see her the way she saw herself— a shadow, a background character.
One rainy afternoon, Liam was absent. Clara found herself sitting alone, surrounded by the bustling cafeteria, as the familiar sense of emptiness quietly crept back in.
Then, Liam appeared, drenched, with a sketchpad tucked under his arm. “I had to show you this.” he said, his smile shining brightly.
He had captured her in a drawing, sitting by the window, with a soft light reflecting in her eyes. “I saw you, Clara. I always did.” he had said, revealing that even in moments when she felt invisible, he had been paying attention all along.
It was a simple statement, yet it carried a depth of loyalty she hadn’t anticipated.
Even when she couldn’t see herself, he did.
The melancholy lingered, a faint echo of past loneliness, but it was overshadowed by a fragile, yet hopeful feeling.
The End.
