When the bus arrived, the two got on one after the other. The bus was quite empty, but they still sat together.
The scenery outside gradually receded as the bus drove on, the sunset’s afterglow casting a warm light on their faces, making everything seem so quiet. But the heaviness in Lizza’s heart made it hard for her to breathe.
Mike glanced at her and gently asked, “Feeling any better?”
Lizza shook her head lightly and said softly, “Actually… there are some things I haven’t told you.”
Mike frowned, knowing she was hiding something, but he didn’t want to push her; he patiently waited for her to continue.
Lizza took a deep breath, seemingly making a significant decision, “Recently… I’ve been having a really hard time at school.” Her voice trembled, and her hands tightly gripped the straps of her backpack, as if trying to hold onto something.
Mike’s heart sank, but he remained calm. “What happened? Is someone bullying you in class?”
Lizza lowered her head, her eyes filled with grievance. “It’s not direct bullying… it’s because the teacher treats me a bit better, and my classmates started to ostracize me. They think I don’t deserve that kind of attention. Gradually, no one talks to me, and sometimes they even say hurtful things behind my back.”
As she spoke, her voice grew softer, tears gradually welling up, blurring her vision. “I’ve tried not to care, but… it’s too hard, really hard.” Her voice choked, and the tears finally flowed uncontrollably.
Seeing her like this, Mike felt a pang in his heart. He knew Lizza had always been strong, always pretending to be indifferent on the surface, but now, the pressure had finally caused her to break down.
He didn’t say anything; he simply reached out and gently pulled her shoulder, allowing her to lean against him. Lizza didn’t resist, resting her head on Mike’s shoulder, her shoulder trembling slightly as tears flowed quietly.
“It’s okay,” Mike whispered, his tone gentle yet firm, “You still have me. No matter what happens, I will be with you.”
Lizza didn’t respond; she just buried her face deeper, her tears silently soaking Mike’s clothes. In this moment of silence, she felt a sense of warmth and safety. The grievances and pressures in her heart seemed to find a moment of release in this simple act of leaning against him.
The scenery outside continued to rush by, but between the two of them, there seemed to be an unspoken understanding.
Mike sat silently with Lizza for a while, feeling her slightly trembling body. Until the bus slowly approached the stop, he gently reminded her, “We’re almost there; let me walk you home.”
Lizza lifted her head, hurriedly wiping away her tears, and nodded. Mike stood up, guiding her off the bus.
The two walked slowly along the sunlit path, the street sparsely populated, the sunset casting long shadows of the two. Lizza’s emotions seemed not to have fully settled; her gaze remained somewhat vacant, and she kept her head down, speaking little.
Mike knew she needed quiet at this moment, so he didn’t say much, just walked silently beside her, maintaining a bit of distance, but that warm support never wavered.
Soon, they arrived in front of Lizza’s house. Mike stopped and softly asked, “Do you feel any better today? If you’re still feeling down, you can always find me.”
Lizza looked up, her gaze softening a bit, and nodded, “Thank you, Mike. I’ll think about it.”
Mike smiled, “Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Sometimes, talking about unhappy things can lighten your heart a bit.”
Standing at the door, Lizza seemed to consider whether to say something more, but in the end, she gently opened the door and returned home.
Mike watched her back until the door closed, then turned to leave. On his way back, he felt a bit heavy-hearted. Hearing Lizza’s words today made him realize that the pressure she was under was more than he had imagined, and it began to worry him about her situation.
Just as he was about to exit the community, his phone vibrated. He took it out and saw a message from Lizza: “Thank you for accompanying me; I feel much better now.”
Mike looked at the message, feeling a bit relieved, and replied, “No matter when, you can always find me.”
