Prom was just 2 weeks away, and lately, my relationship with Justin was going great. Things went back to normal, or at least I thought they had. After weeks of tension and uncertainty, we'd finally found our groove again. We spent more time together, talking, laughing, and just enjoying each other's company. It felt like nothing could go wrong.
As prom drew closer, excitement filled the air. We made plans for the night—what we'd wear, who we'd go with, and how we'd make it unforgettable. Justin was busy with last-minute preparations, but we made sure to carve out time for each other amidst the chaos. I couldn't help but feel a mixture of excitement and nerves. Would prom be the perfect night we'd always dreamed of? Or would something unexpected shake up our happiness?
With each passing day, I realized that this was more than just about prom. It was about the bond we had built over time, and no matter what happened, we were in it together. I just hoped the night would live up to all the expectations.
He picked me up on prom Night in a black BMW.
I stared in shock as i turned to him. I had seen him with different cars before in the past. A result of his parents being rich, but a BMW?
Wow!.
I laughed as he pulled the door open with a dramatic bow. "M'lady," he teased.
I rolled my eyes, but my smile gave me away. "You're such a dork."
"And you love it," he replied with a wink, helping me into the car.
The BMW purred as he started it up, and we drove off into the night, city lights reflecting on the windshield like scattered stars. The streets felt alive, buzzing with energy, like they knew tonight was special.
"Did I mention you look absolutely stunning?" he asked, eyes flicking over to me before returning to the road.
"Once or twice," I said, trying to hide how much it made my stomach flutter.
"Good. I plan on reminding you every hour."
I chuckled, leaning back in the seat, letting the moment wrap around me like a warm blanket. I didn't want to think about anything but tonight—no drama, no doubts. Just me and Justin, and a night that had been in the making for months.
We arrived at the venue just as the sky turned a deep purple, the last traces of sunset fading behind the school building. Strings of lights twinkled overhead, and laughter echoed from the entrance. It looked like something out of a movie.
Justin stepped out and rounded the car, offering his hand with a playful bow. "Shall we?"
I took it, butterflies flitting in my chest. "We shall."
Inside, the gym had been transformed into something magical—soft lights, floating decorations, and a playlist that actually didn't suck. We danced, laughed, posed for pictures with our friends. For a while, it was perfect.
And then, during a slow dance, as we swayed to some acoustic love song, Justin leaned in close and whispered, "I'm really glad we made it here... together. After everything."
I looked up at him, caught off guard by the tenderness in his voice.
"Me too," I whispered back.
And in that moment, I knew—whatever the future held, no matter what ups and downs came our way—tonight, we were exactly where we were supposed to be.
The next monday after prom Justin didn't show up at school.
I was a little worried, we had talked almost all through Sunday and i w got even more worried realising something had seemed off when we were talking.
He had said bye as if we weren't going to see each other the next day, and we didn't.
I tried calling but his number could not be reached.
I even talked to his teammates and they said they couldn't reach him either.
By the time school ended my mind was filled with all sorts of thoughts.
Was he hurt?
Sick?
Did something happen?
I decided to go over to his house.
I had only been there twice to meet his mum, who was a nice , pretty woman with a warm personality.
I arrived to discover that the house was empty and according to the security guard his mum had left a week before and Jason had followed on Sunday night.
I was distraught.
Justin left without telling me?
I asked the security if he knew where they went. He said he didn't but it looked like it was going to be a long time before they would return to town or never.
I stood there, frozen. The words echoed in my mind like a cruel joke: "A long time... or never."
The security guard gave me a sympathetic look, but there was nothing more he could offer—no note, no explanation, not even a clue. Just silence and an empty driveway where Justin's BMW had once been.
I turned back to my car in a daze, tears stinging my eyes. It felt unreal. Just two days ago, we were dancing under fairy lights, wrapped up in each other like nothing else mattered. And now, he was just... gone.
No goodbye. No explanation. Nothing.
The ride home was a blur. I didn't even remember turning the key in the ignition. My phone sat useless in my lap, still showing the last unread text I'd sent him:
"Miss you already. Let's talk more tonight?"
Delivered, but never read.
That night, I lay in bed staring at the ceiling, running through everything he had said on prom night. Had there been signs? Warnings I missed? The way he held me so tight during that last dance... the way he looked at me, like he was saying goodbye without saying it.
I didn't sleep much.
The days that followed felt hollow. My friends tried to comfort me, saying maybe it was a family emergency or something out of his control. But I knew Justin. He wouldn't just vanish. Not without telling me.
Unless he had to.
A week later, I was in my room, scrolling mindlessly through old photos, when a message popped up on my screen. It was from a private account. No profile picture. No name.
The message read:
"I'm sorry. I wanted to tell you, but I couldn't. Please don't look for me."
My heart stopped.
I knew it was him.
I stared at the screen, fingers trembling over the keyboard.
"Why, Justin? Why couldn't you just tell me what was going on?" I typed back.
No response.
Not that night. Not the next day.
The account went silent after that.
But I knew one thing for sure—whatever had taken Justin away, it wasn't just some casual move or a sudden decision. Something was going on. Something bigger.
I tried to contact him again after that. I did everything i could but no response. Nothing.
The rest of the school year went by in a blur and before i knew it i was graduating.
By this time i had almost moved on although he kept crossing my mind frequently.
I was getting over him.
At least i didn't cry again anytime someone mentioned him.
As i sat in the school multipurpose hall in my graduation gown i couldn't help but think About him.
We would have been here together and i could almost imagine him giving me a smirk as i gave a speech as best graduating student instead of him.
I felt tears roll down my eyes as i finished my speech and the hall echoed with applause from the students and parents.
As my friends and i walked out of the hall a man walked up to me.
"Excuse me, are you Riya McKenzie?"
I nodded "uhhh yes can i help you?"
The man smiled and says Delivery for you"
He hands me a bouquet of white roses and without a word walks away.
I stared at the roses which had a note tucked inside it.
My fingers shook slightly as I pulled the note from between the petals. The handwriting was familiar, unmistakable—the slanted lines, the sharp curves. My heart thundered in my chest as I unfolded the small piece of paper.
"I'm proud of you, Riya. I always knew you'd shine.
I'm sorry I couldn't be there.
I still think about you every day.
– J"
I stood frozen, the note trembling in my hands as the noise around me faded into nothingness. The hall, the laughter, the hugs and cheers—they all melted away as I stared at those few words. He was still out there. He was watching, somehow. And he hadn't forgotten me.
"Riya? Are you okay?" one of my friends asked, concerned.
I nodded slowly, not trusting my voice just yet. I tucked the note carefully back into the bouquet and hugged it to my chest. My eyes scanned the crowd, half-hoping, half-dreading that I'd see him standing there in the shadows. But there was nothing—just families and classmates celebrating the end of an era.
That night, I couldn't sleep again. The roses sat in a vase by my window, glowing softly in the moonlight like a memory that refused to fade. I re-read the note over and over, trying to read between the lines. There were so many questions that still haunted me.
Why did he leave?
Where was he now?
And would I ever see him again?
I knew this wasn't the end. Not really. Maybe it was just the beginning of a different chapter—one where the answers wouldn't come easy, but maybe… just maybe, they'd come eventually.
And deep down, despite everything, a tiny spark of hope flickered in my heart.
He still cared.
He still thought about me.
And somewhere out there… Justin was still watching.
I couldn't help but feel like the roses would be the last contact i would have with him.
I stared at the white roses.
White roses meant everlasting love , respect, remembrance.
It was some kind of promise.
I took the note putting it in my purse.
That night I made up my mind to do exactly what Justin said.
I would forget him and prpare myself for the future ahead.
I knew deep in my mind that we might meet again someday and i would get answers from him, but for now? I would focus on my life and i would do my very best to remember what we shared.
To my parents and friends, my relationship with Justin was just an high school relationship and it didn't really account for much, but to me? I knew it accounted for a lot more than that.
I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep with hope for the future.
I smiled.