I know someone like you is used to letting go.

As Nick stood in the desolate alley, raindrops mingling with his tears, he watched your agonizing dilemma unfold before him. His heart clenched with pain as he saw you hesitate, torn between your girlfriend, Angela, and Nick, your best friend. The smell of wet asphalt mixed with the faint scent of the coffee Nick had bought you earlier that day, now cold and forgotten in his trembling hand.

Should I distance myself from you?

They both knew she was poison- slowly but surely eating away at you bit by bit as Nick stood and watched, unable to do anything because his best friend was deaf to his pleas, refusing to take off the blindfold she had so lovingly put on you. The sound of thunder rumbled in the distance, matching the pounding of his heart.

What about me? I've fallen for you.

Angela's desperate pleas cut through the downpour, her tear-filled eyes fixed on you. Nick could feel his chest tightening with every word she uttered, begging you not to leave her. Promising to be better- promising to cherish you, lies you had all heard countless times before. Her voice cracked with calculated emotion, a performance Nick had witnessed too many times.

What about me, waiting so long for you. Is everything really nothing for you?

You glanced back at Nick, your expression tortured, your eyes searching for something in his. He wanted to scream, to beg you to see reason, to choose him over her. But he remained silent, unable to voice the love that had grown silently in his heart. His fingers tightened around the crumpled letter in his pocket, the one he'd written but never dared to give you.

What about me...did you really just let me go?

With a heavy heart, you turned away from him, your footsteps echoing in the rain-soaked alley as you reached out to Angela- and all Nick could do was watch silently, just like he always had. Unable to say anything, unable to pull you away from her grasp- unable to show you his love and devotion.

As you walked away, he stood frozen in the storm, feeling the weight of your choice crush him. The rain washed away his tears, leaving behind only the hollow ache of a heartbroken friend who had lost the one he loved more than anything in the world as his legs finally gave out, kneeling down, shoulders heaving with the sobs masked by the pitter patter of the rain and distant thunder.

Love could be painful sometimes, he knew that much- but was love ever supposed to hurt like this? He couldn't help but wonder.