Almost a Fairy Tale

Son woke up after an incredible and romantic night; it was something she had desired for a long time. It was her first time, and although the experience was just as she had imagined, the circumstances surrounding it were far from ideal. Looking at Rodrigo still asleep, Son felt that, despite everything that had happened, he was everything she had dreamed of. However, she understood that she had to return to reality and move on with her life. She decided to leave before Rodrigo woke up, because if he opened his eyes, it would be impossible to tear herself away from him. She got up, grabbed her clothes, and got dressed. Before leaving, she left a note on the nightstand:

"Last night was magical, more than I could have ever imagined, but you have to understand me—this cannot continue or be, at least not right now. I love you! Son."

Rodrigo woke up, and reaching out his arm to find Son, he noticed she was gone. He thought maybe she was in the kitchen, but soon realized she was nowhere to be found. He returned to the bedroom and saw the note. Reading it, a deep frustration washed over him. He tried calling her, but Son didn't answer. For the very first time, Rodrigo felt his own heart break.

While Rodrigo kept trying to reach her, Son ignored his calls. Her priority was getting to school, facing the final weeks of classes, and preparing for graduation—a fresh start and a change of scenery.

Days earlier, while Son was trying to navigate the problems her choices had caused, she had checked her email and found a message from a school in London. Son had completely forgotten that a few months ago, she had applied for a summer writing course in London, one that offered the possibility of staying there to study full-time. She hadn't thought about it since, never actually believing she would be accepted. But on that day, there she was, looking at her inbox and reading their reply. She opened the email and, sure enough, she was in. She would be leaving at the end of June, right after graduation.

That email was the turning point for Son regarding her future, along with the heart-to-heart conversation she'd had with her mother. She remembered who she was and what she wanted for her life. That was exactly why she had tried to mend her friendship with Erika and decided to say goodbye to Rodrigo in the best way possible, seeking closure and avoiding leaving everything in chaos.

Upon returning to school after Spring Break, Son saw Rodrigo. He greeted her from a distance—not out of resentment, but because he finally understood her decision. She also saw Erika, and simply smiled at her from afar. That was how the final months of school passed: Son surrounded by new friends, waiting for graduation day.

Son's graduation wasn't exactly how she had always dreamed it would be, but she understood that everything she had lived through had made her stronger and helped her mature. New adventures awaited her, and she was ready to keep learning, experiencing, and perhaps, start a completely new life far away from everyone and everything she knew.