With those thoughts in my mind, I pulled out a pack of cigarettes and lit one up. I hadn’t touched a cigarette since she claimed to dislike the smell, but now I felt an urge to puff away, even if it meant blowing smoke right in her face.
Standing before her, I fixed my gaze on her, but my mind wandered to another version of Celeste, who had been kind, gentle, and cared for me more deeply than anyone else could.
Back then, life had played a cruel hand; abandoned by my parents as a baby, I had been left in the care of an orphanage. That night, as the snow fell heavily outside, the director told me that if they hadn’t found me, I might have succumbed to the cold.
From a young age, I knew I was on my own, with no shoulder to lean on. I had to pull myself up by my bootstraps and work tirelessly to succeed.
With determination, I studied harder, earned a spot at a prestigious university, and met Celeste, whose vibrant energy and always saw a smile on her face.
Well, back then, I was a guy who was naturally reserved and kept to myself, shying away from socializing.