Page 80 - B. Ing_Antologi Cerpen Xl-6

changed. He studied harder, took care of himself, and

rebuilt his life. All of it to follow Clara to Maple Hill
School. And he made it. But life keeps moving. Clara,

now busier with her own future, slowly drifted away. Leo
felt empty again. But this time, he didn’t cry. He just sat

quietly, thinking, and tried to make peace with it. He

started a small business, kept exercising, and let go of
depending on others for happiness. He learned to care for

himself, slowly and imperfectly. He realized that no one
else could be the center of his life but himself.

That afternoon, Leo sat on a school bench. The
sky was orange, and the wind brushed gently against his

face. When a message from Clara appeared on his phone,
he looked at the screen calmly. He knew life would go

on. He didn’t know what his next step would be, or if
that message was a beginning or an end.

But one thing was certain. He no longer ran for
others.

He just kept walking.

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