DARK CHEMISTRY
The hallway outside the staff room was almost empty—just echoing footsteps, open lockers, the scent of old wood and chalk.
Daniel stood there with his suitcase beside him, passport sticking out of his coat pocket, the final announcement still ringing in Lizzie's ears:
"I'll be relocating.
I've accepted a teaching position at a university in Poland."
Two years of moments.
Two years of stolen glances, secret meetings, whispered late-night calls…
Two years of a love that grew in shadows—
And just like that, it felt like everything shattered.
Students gathered around him one last time to say goodbye.
Moana quietly squeezed Lizzie's shoulder, whispering "It's okay,"
but Lizzie felt nothing.
Her ears buzzed.
Her throat hurt.
Her heart felt like it had been yanked out.
She stood frozen at the end of the hallway while Daniel turned toward the exit.
He walked away.
Each step felt like a door closing.
He reached for the metal push-bar of the main gate—
And then—
Lizzie's hand shot out and grabbed his.
Daniel stopped.
His fingers stiffened under her grip.
Slowly, he turned.
Lizzie's head was bowed so low her hair hid her face.
Her small hand trembled against his.
"Lizzie…" he breathed.
She clutched tighter.
"You weren't… going to say goodbye," she whispered, voice breaking.
"Not even once."
Daniel swallowed hard.
"That's not it."
"Then what is it?" Her voice cracked.
"Why didn't you tell me earlier? Why didn't you look at me? Why are you leaving without—without anything?"
Her eyes finally lifted to his.
Red.
Wet.
Full of hurt she was trying so hard to hide.
Daniel's entire chest tightened.
"You weren't supposed to come," he said quietly.
"I didn't want you to see me leave."
Her lip trembled.
"Why? You think I'd break?"
"You are breaking," he whispered.
Lizzie looked down again, voice barely audible.
"Only because you're going."
The suitcase handle slipped from Daniel's grip.
He stepped closer, lowering his head to her level.
"I didn't tell you earlier… because if I did…"
He exhaled shakily.
"…I knew I wouldn't be able to leave at all."
Lizzie's breath hitched.
Daniel gently reached for her chin, lifting her face.
Her tears spilled down her cheeks; she tried wiping them quickly, embarrassed—but he stopped her hand.
"Don't hide from me," he murmured.
Lizzie whispered, "Do you… want to leave me?"
His eyes widened, almost pained.
"No," he whispered fiercely.
"I don't want to leave you. I just don't know if… I have the right to take you with me."
Lizzie's voice cracked:
"You already took my heart. Isn't that enough?"
Daniel's composure shattered for a second—jaw tightening, breath faltering.
He took her face in both hands, thumbs brushing her tears.
"Lizzie…"
Her grip on his shirt tightened.
"Please," she whispered, "don't go without saying something real."
His forehead touched hers.
His voice soft, raw, trembling.
"Then hear this—
I love you more than I ever should have."
Lizzie froze.
Her tears stopped mid-fall.
Daniel swallowed hard.
"And that's exactly why I'm scared to stay."
Her knees wobbled.
Her breath stilled.
Her voice trembled:
"What… what happens now?"
Daniel's hands slipped down to hers, squeezing gently.
"That depends on you."
A pause.
"Do you want me to come back someday?
Or… do you want to come with me?"
Lizzie's fingers tightened around his coat, desperate, trembling.
"Daniel… please."
Her voice cracked so softly it barely formed the words.
"Don't go. Don't leave me. I—I can't—"
He closed his eyes.
Her plea hit him like a knife.
"Lizzie…" he whispered, pained.
"Don't make this harder."
She shook her head, tears falling faster.
"Then don't go. Stay. I'll do anything—just… don't leave me behind."
Her tears soaked the sleeve of his coat as she held on.
He grabbed her shoulders gently but firmly, forcing himself to breathe.
"I want to stay," he said hoarsely.
"You have no idea how badly. But I can't ignore this opportunity. I'd lose everything I've worked for."
"I don't care…" she cried.
"I don't care about your job—just don't leave me."
His voice broke.
"You're the one thing I do care about. But I can't stay trapped here forever."
Lizzie's face crumpled, pain spilling out of her.
Daniel lifted her chin with shaking fingers.
"If I stay because you beg me… I'll resent myself. And it'll hurt you too. I can't let that happen."
She sobbed quietly, shaking her head over and over.
"But I'll wait for you," she whispered.
"I'll wait years if I have to…"
He brushed her tear-damp hair back gently.
"Don't."
His voice was barely a breath.
"You're too young to waste your life waiting for someone like me."
Her knees weakened.
Daniel steadied her one last time… then slowly removed her hands from his coat.
Her fingers tried to cling—
but he pulled away.
He stepped back.
A few feet.
Then another.
Lizzie stood frozen in the hallway, tears streaming, breath breaking, small and helpless.
"Lizzie…" he whispered one last time, voice full of everything he couldn't say.
Then he turned.
Walked toward the exit.
Didn't look back—
Not until he reached the school gate.
Only then did he stop.
He slowly turned his head over his shoulder—
And what he saw crushed him.
Lizzie wasn't running after him.
She wasn't screaming.
She wasn't begging again.
She was walking back to class.
Slowly.
Her head down.
Her hands pressed to her face.
Her shoulders hunched, trembling.
Crying silently.
Completely broken.
Each step she took away from him felt like a piece of him was being torn out.
Daniel gripped the metal gate so hard his knuckles whitened.
He wanted to call her name.
He wanted to run back.
He wanted to hold her.
But he forced himself to turn away.
He left the school.
Lizzie disappeared into the classroom hallway—
And Daniel disappeared from her world.