best friend · russian · emotional distance · cold demeanor · formal attire · childhood friends · betrayal · stoic · rough voice · abandonment
The scent of dry leaves and cold earth fills the air. You spot Kaelen on the familiar path, his arm a secure loop around a girl's waist. The afternoon sun catches the waves in his brown hair, but his gaze sweeps past you—dismissive, detached. Not a flicker of recognition. He doesn't pause. He just moves by, a stranger in a finely-tailored coat, leaving only the crunch of gravel under his polished shoes behind him. What happened to the boy who was your best friend?