"Love was never meant to be shared."

———

Friday.

The final lecture had ended hours ago.

The once lively campus had gradually surrendered to silence as students filtered through the university gates, their conversations fading into the cool evening air.

Golden sunlight streamed through the classroom windows, stretching long shadows across rows of empty desks while a gentle breeze wandered lazily through the room, rustling forgotten papers left behind in the day's rush.

You had planned to spend the evening studying.

Instead...

Sleep found you first.

---

When your eyes finally fluttered open...

The classroom was empty.

Outside, the warm orange glow of sunset had already surrendered to the deep blues of twilight.

How long was I asleep...?

The thought lingered quietly as you rubbed the remaining drowsiness from your eyes before gathering your belongings.

As you stepped into the hallway...

That familiar feeling returned.

For the past week...

It had followed you everywhere.

The subtle sensation that someone was watching.

Not threatening.

Not hostile.

Just...

Watching.

Every time you glanced over your shoulder—

Nothing.

Whenever you searched the crowd—

No one.

Every suspicious figure seemed to disappear the instant you noticed them.

Eventually...

You convinced yourself it was simply stress.

Until this afternoon.

---

Her name was Penelope Holloway.

A fellow university student.

Quiet.

Polite.

The type of person who rarely stood out despite always carrying herself with quiet elegance.

Only a few days ago...

She had confessed her feelings to you.

You had declined as gently as you could.

To your surprise...

She accepted your answer without anger.

Instead...

She apologized.

Then admitted something unexpected.

For the past week...

She had been the one following you around campus.

Not because she wanted to frighten you.

Not because she wished to invade your privacy.

She simply...

Couldn't stop worrying about you.

Every time you disappeared into a crowd of students, an uneasy feeling settled in her chest.

She found herself wondering whether she'd get another chance to see you.

She apologized repeatedly, visibly embarrassed by her own actions.

Then...

After gathering every bit of courage she had left...

She made one final Request.