Chapter 3 3

The rain fell endlessly that night-wild, furious, as if the sky itself was spilling all its sorrow.

Alysa stood behind the window, watching the puddles spread across the yard. The dress Raisa had forced her to wear earlier now lay discarded on the bed. She wore Kenan's old jacket instead-the faint scent of soap and damp earth still lingered in the fabric, wrapping her in a bittersweet comfort.

She stared down at her phone. One message from Kenan had come in five minutes ago:

> "I'm outside your house. Let's leave tonight, just like we planned."

Alysa shut her eyes tightly. Her chest ached so much it hurt to breathe. Her small hands trembled as she tried to type a reply-but not a single word would come.

Tears fell, splashing onto the glowing screen.

> "Kenan..." she whispered weakly. "I'm sorry..."

Then came the sound of a car stopping outside the gate.

Footsteps hurried through the storm.

> "Alysa!"

That voice-his voice. The one that could always calm the storm in her heart.

Alysa straightened, then slowly walked toward the door.

In the living room, Raisa was already standing there, arms crossed, a cold smile curling her lips.

> "That must be your foolish lover," she said evenly.

"You know what you have to do, don't you?"

Alysa's eyes were red as she looked at her stepmother.

> "Mother... please don't make me do this. I can't hurt him."

> "Then let your father die tonight."

Raisa turned, picking up her phone.

"I can call the hospital right now-"

> "Don't!" Alysa cried, her voice breaking.

Her whole body trembled, her face streaked with tears.

"I'll... I'll do it."

Raisa's smile widened in cruel satisfaction.

> "Good. Make tonight the last time he ever steps into your life."

---

The front door opened to a rush of cold wind and the roar of unrelenting rain.

Kenan stood outside the gate in a thin raincoat, his face drenched with rain and sweat.

> "Alysa!" He ran up, breathless.

"I've got everything ready-the money we saved, bus tickets out of town. We can go tonight!"

Alysa stood in the doorway, silent, her heart pounding violently.

Kenan grasped her hands tightly.

> "Alysa, listen to me. We don't need anyone's permission. I promise I'll make you happy. I'll work hard, I'll-"

Alysa pulled her hands away, rain and tears blending on her face.

> "Stop, Kenan."

> "What?"

> "Stop talking like a fool."

Her voice trembled, but her words were firm.

"Do you really think I want to live poor with you forever? I'm sick of it, Kenan!"

Kenan froze.

> "Alysa... what are you saying?"

> "I don't need your love!" Alysa's eyes burned as she glared at him.

"You have nothing-no house, no future! I'm tired of living off your stupid dreams!"

Thunder cracked above them. Kenan stepped back, his face pale, as if her words had struck deeper than lightning ever could.

> "You... you don't mean that."

> "I mean every word."

Alysa fought to keep her voice from breaking.

"I don't want to be a fool in love with a failure. I want a real life-not poverty with you."

> "No..." Kenan shook his head slowly, rain dripping down his face.

"You can't mean that. Alysa, this isn't you. Did your mother-"

> "Stop blaming everyone else!" Alysa shouted.

"I finally realized something-love can't buy a better life! So please, just leave before I can't stand the sight of you anymore!"

The rain grew heavier, drowning out the sound of her stifled sobs.

Kenan looked at her for a long moment-searching her eyes for even a hint of truth, a sliver of the girl he once knew.

But all he saw was coldness. Emptiness. A wound he couldn't understand.

> "If that's really what you want..." he said softly.

He lowered his hand-the one that had always held hers.

"I won't force you."

Alysa bowed her head. Her eyes burned, her tears threatening to spill.

She bit her lip hard, forcing the pain inward.

> "Go." Her voice was barely a whisper.

"I don't want to see you again."

Kenan looked at her one last time.

Through the pouring rain, the warmth in his eyes dimmed-like a candle flickering before dying out.

He turned away and walked off into the night. Each step he took carved deeper into Alysa's chest, slicing through what was left of her strength.

When his figure finally vanished into the darkness, her body gave out.

Alysa collapsed to her knees at the doorway.

> "Kenan..."

Her tears burst free, mixing with the rain that drenched her face.

"I'm sorry... I had no choice..."

She clutched her chest, trying to hold back the unbearable pain.

The rain kept falling, soaking her completely-but its coldness was nothing compared to the cold that had settled inside her.

From inside the house, Raisa watched through the window, satisfaction curling her lips.

> "Perfect," she murmured.

"Now everything will go according to plan."

---

Kenan walked aimlessly through the storm, the rain striking his face like shards of glass.

His mind spun between anger, heartbreak, and disbelief.

> "No..." he muttered to himself.

"Alysa isn't like that. She couldn't have meant it..."

But her final words echoed mercilessly in his head:

> "I'm sick of living poor with you."

He stopped in the middle of the empty road, looking up at the storm-black sky.

> "If that's truly what you want, Alysa..." his voice cracked, raw with pain,

"then I'll erase you from my life."