It was the briefest of moments. Just a single second and then she was gone. But that was okay, he reasoned. He'd see her again. He just knew it.

It was his junior year in college, and he knew that he should be focusing on his studies, and yet, here he was, standing in the hallway, staring at the fleeting figure of the tall, brunette, hazel-eyed girl. He could hear his mother's voice in the back of his head.

Thomas, stop staring, you're being impolite! I've taught you better than this, you stupid, lazy, good-for-nothing child!

He shook his head and gave a defeated sigh, allowing the words to temporarily fade from his mind. Gathering up a bit of courage, he began to walk after the girl, who was now a mere figurine in the distance, but stopped short when his best friend, Charles, grabbed his arm.

"Going somewhere?" he asked with a laugh.

"Oh, just...nowhere. I was going nowhere. Certainly not following anyone. Why would you suggest that?" replied Thomas, the words spilling off his tongue before they even appeared in his brain.

Charles gave a quiet laugh as he leaned against the door to a classroom. "You know, I think you should consider a career in the FBI," he said before wrapping an arm around his friend's shoulders. "You need to forget about this girl, my friend. Perhaps you could try one who is actually interested in you."

"Emily does have an interest in me," Thomas insisted. He then sighed and mumbled out,  "Just not in the way that I want her to."

"Precisely. She's a sweet girl, but she doesn't have a romantic interest in you. You're much better off just finding someone else."

Thomas sighed, looking down at his feet, digging the left heel of his black Converse into the tiled floor. "Are you sure she doesn't like me in that way?"

"Well...you constantly following her, trying to sit with her at lunch,  buying her coffee, and giving her flowers doesn't seem to make her very comfortable," Charles said with a sigh, reaching up to scratch the back of his neck.

"Has she said anything about it directly? Has she...asked about me? Said that it annoys her?"

"Well...yes," Charles replied with some hesitation. "I believe her exact words were 'What can I do to get him to leave me alone?'"

Thomas dug his fingers into his thigh, biting his tongue at the same time. "I see," he said quietly.

"But you know, there are plenty of girls out there who are just as smart as you are," Charles said, giving his friend an encouraging smile. "I'm sure you'll find a good one."

"Thanks. I'll see you later, Charles, I...just have to get something from our dorm." Not waiting for a reply, Thomas scurried off down the hallway and stepped outside, deciding to go to the library.

He needed the quiet to clear his head, and he knew the library was the perfect place for that. Whenever he needed peace and a place to escape from the world, he went to the library and sat in the corner. There was just something about the smell of the books and being surrounded by literature that was centuries old that made him feel like home. Well, not home home. He never wanted to experience that nightmare again.

Once again having to shake away thoughts of his abusive mother, he stepped into the school's vast library and immediately gave a small smile as he took a deep breath. He felt comfort. He felt happy.

Until he saw her.

There, across the room, sat Emily.

He had forgotten that she would be there at the time - as she always was - and he silently reprimanded himself for it. He was about to turn around and leave, but as he did, she looked up at her book.

Her gaze instantly floated from the printed words on the page to Thomas' eyes, and he felt a spark ignite in his chest, compelling him to stay. But after a moment, he looked down and shuffled his feet.

She wouldn't want him there, he told himself. She would think he was stalking her.

"I don't care," he whispered. Armed with nothing but fake confidence,  a brave smile, and a somewhat positive attitude, he padded across the room and moved over to her table, taking a seat without waiting for an invitation. "Hey."

"Hi," Emily replied quietly, giving him a small smile before she turned her attention back to her book.

"What are you reading?" Thomas asked, hoping to start some sort of conversation.

"Phantom by Susan Kay," Emily said as she held up the novel, allowing him to see the cover. "Have you read it?"

"Unfortunately not," Thomas replied softly. Sighing, he hesitantly continued: "Emily, I just talked with Charles, and I-"

Emily immediately gave a sigh of relief, cutting him off mid sentence. "I thought he was never going to tell you about us," she said as she closed her book. "He kept putting it off, and I've been wanting him to tell you, because I was afraid you would see us together and find out. I think you're a sweet person, Thomas, and I didn't want you to get your feelings hurt, but I really do love Charles, and I think our relationship could go somewhere."

Thomas felt his heart sink in his chest, but he quickly hid it with a smile. "Yes," he said softly, "I'm sure you're very happy together."

—————

That evening...

There was a banging on her front door. She couldn't help but be a bit nervous at how desperate and urgent the knock sounded. With a frown, she tossed aside her book and got up off of the sofa, hurrying over to open the door. "Charles," she said upon letting the visitor in. "What-"

"Did you tell him?" he asked, grief evident in his eyes.

Emily frowned, tilting her head to one side slightly. "Tell who about what?" she asked softly.

"Thomas about you and I dating. Did you tell him?" Charles pressed.

"I mentioned it when I ran into him at the library. I thought you had already told him," Emily replied as a frown formed on her face.

"Well, I didn't. You did."

Emily gasped quietly, putting a hand to her forehead. "I can't believe it did that, my god. Is he alright? I know that he suffers from depression and can be very fragile at times."

"Emily, he...he isn't..." He bit his tongue, almost unable to continue.

"Charles, what is it?" Emily asked softly.

"Thomas, he...he committed suicide. He's dead."