He held his pendant and suggested, "I will do the same, thinking of you."

Because of what Lucas said, Lily could not help but be sentimental. She asked, "Why are your words so emotional?"

Lucas did not answer. Instead, he held her tightly again and danced to the remaining music played in the background. Eventually, he softly said in her ear, "Lily, I - I don't know when I'll see you again. I - I don't think I can hold back tonight. I want you, Lily."

With that, Lily gasped.

Truthfully, it was hard to hold back since she loved Lucas beyond compare. Nevertheless, they had preserved their innocence because their families were good friends. They both did not want to do anything that would disappoint their parents.

However, since Lily was alone with Lucas, she figured, why not? She loved him, and she knew Lucas would never hurt her.

That night, Lily and Lucas made love for the first time. Their bare bodies were in synch through the night, tangled in white satin sheets.

It was already in the wee hours when they finally decided to rest. While Lily cuddled into Lucas' chest, she heard him say, "I will always love you, Lily. No matter what. Remember that."

In her drowsy state, Lily did not think much about it and simply answered, "I love you too."

Lily thought her life was perfect despite her current situation. With Lucas by her side, she could withstand all the trials in her life. Sadly, when Lily woke up the next day, Lucas was gone. The security said Lucas left in a rush at dawn. They all thought she knew.

Again and again, Lily called Lucas' number, but his phone was off.

"Lucas, where are you?" She murmured before calling everyone who knew Lucas.

Lily also called Lucas' parents, but to her surprise, Lucas' father said, "Isn't he with you, Lily? I received his text last night saying he would stay longer with you."

Everyone started to look for Lucas at that point, but he seemed to have disappeared. They only discovered that he had withdrawn a substantial amount of money a month ago.

In the following days, Lily escaped the villa that was supposed to protect her. She wanted to find Lucas herself. She went through panic, desperation, anger, and denial of what was going on.

"Lily, maybe you missed something. Go back to the villa and check for clues," her brother suggested during one of their trips to Lucas' medical school. Thus, she went back to the villa and turned her room upside down. Then she saw the note that had slid under her bedside table.

Lucas had apparently left her a note. Lily frantically opened it and read:

[Lily,

I'm sorry it had to be this way, but I know I would not have the courage to tell you this in person. I love you with all my heart, but I must leave.

I wish I could say that I will be back, but the truth is, I don't know what the future holds for me.

Don't wait for me. Don't look for me because you won't find me. Live your life and be happy.

Goodbye.

Your best friend,

Lucas.]

'Goodbye. Don't wait for me.' The words echoed in her head.

Lily's heart stopped beating for a second. Her eyes became muddled with tears.

She could not believe it. Her best friend and the person she entrusted her heart to, left her without giving a proper reason.

"Lucas!" Lily screamed. "Why? What did I do to deserve this?"

"Lucas!"

"Lucas, tell me why?”

That day, Lily screamed her heart out, but no matter how many times she called Lucas' name and asked the heavens, her questions remained unanswered.

***

Nine months passed.

Despite Lucas's letter, Lily and her family continued their search for Lucas. Only the heavens knew how much resources they had spent to locate the man. However, things took a complete turn when something new came into her life.

From inside her bedroom, Lily watched a sleeping baby in a crib.

Lily wept at the baby's cute face. No matter what, this baby was a gift, a new reason to keep going. Thus, Lily decided to close a chapter in her life and start anew.

She opened her bedside drawer and took out the note that Lucas had given her before evaporating in the face of the earth. She took the letter to the bathroom and flushed it down the toilet.

She said, "I accept your goodbye, Lucas."