#fl16

However, being with someone for so long from such a young age almost always ends up being detrimental, and you two were no exception. At first, there weren’t really any problems. Both of you were young in Barcelona full of dreams. Fermín was starting his career at the club of his dreams, and you were beginning your studies at the university you had always wanted to attend. Whenever you could, you went to his matches to support him, and he always made an effort to take you on romantic dates.

But the honeymoon phase is only temporary, and the problems between you two began to surface as quickly as the changes in your lives.

“We’re forever, Y/N,” Fermín said one day after a fight in his apartment.

You were crying on the couch while he cleaned up the mess you had both made in the kitchen during the argument. Once he had calmed down enough, he came to comfort you for something he himself had caused.

“I’m sorry,” he said, kissing your temple. “It’s you and me. This is just temporary.”

But it wasn’t temporary. If anything, the bad moments multiplied from then on. Both of you were anxious, on the verge of collapse. The pressure of performing well at Barcelona was overwhelming Fermín, and your university workload had you ready to explode—not to mention the loneliness you felt being so far from home.

There wasn’t a day that went by without the two of you fighting over the smallest things, and the cruelty of your words in anger haunted you both like ghosts after the storm had passed.

It was obvious to everyone who knew you that the best thing would be to end the relationship, but as always, the two of you were the last to realize it. The same people who had celebrated your relationship were now pleading with you to open your eyes and walk away.

In the end, they were right, and your relationship with Fermín came to an end.

Heartbroken and directionless, you decided to focus entirely on your studies. After all, you had to do something to keep yourself from thinking about the person you missed most in your life. Months later, just as you were about to receive an award for a research project you’d completed in one of your classes, you got a call from the last person you expected.

“Fermín?” you answered the phone, incredulous.

“Hey,” your ex-boyfriend’s voice came through the line. “I hope I’m not bothering you, but I heard you’re getting an award. I just wanted to congratulate you.”

You didn’t say anything for a few seconds, taking in the sound of his voice after so many months of silence.

“Thanks. It’s just a small recognition,” you finally replied.

He nodded, even though you couldn’t see him.

“I still think about you,” he whispered into the phone, so softly that you had to press it closer to your ear to catch the words. “I miss you, I’m sorry.”

Those five words felt like a punch to the chest. You’d tried so hard not to miss him that you hadn’t realized it was the only thing you truly felt.

“I miss you too,” you admitted. “Nothing happened in the way I wanted.” Your voice cracked as you spoke, but it was the least of your concerns.

“Me neither.”

“Do you maybe… I don’t know if you’re busy, but would you want to come to the ceremony? It’s short, maybe an hour,” you asked nervously. You’d never been nervous talking to Fermín before, but this felt like a special occasion.

On the other end of the line, he smiled, though you couldn’t see it.