Requiem of a Broken Heart

Chapter 87

Chapter 87:

His mind, however, wandered back to the figure who had stood close to Rachel on the bridge that night. The shadows had masked the man’s face, but Trey clearly recalled his name: Brian White.

“Rachel,” Trey said, his voice carrying a hint of uncertainty, “may I ask you something?”

“Absolutely. What’s on your mind?”

Hesitating, he took a breath and asked, “Do you… have a boyfriend? Was that man on the bridge… your boyfriend?”

Rachel paused, her spoon suspended in mid-air. She gently placed it down and stood, moving wordlessly toward the window. Outside, the sunlight was inviting, yet a cold settled over her heart.

All day, she had tried to push thoughts of Brian from her mind. Yet, Trey’s words had steered her thoughts back to him.

boyfriend? Could she call Brian her boyfriend? This question haunted her often. If he truly was, why wasn’t he there when she needed him most? But if he wasn’t, how could she make sense

her melancholy and approached, resting his hand gently on her fragile shoulder. “I’m sorry,

head back, her eyes fluttering as she fought to hold back

was the simplest way to summarize her relationship

of her grief. “Rachel, you once mentioned that I remind you of Jeffrey,” he murmured. “Let me be there for you like a brother. Just lean on me for a

genuine, just as

more content

I?” Rachel whispered, her voice barely

“Of course, you can.”

resting

about the times she leaned on Jeffrey, filled with laughter and deep conversations. Before Brian was part of her life,

had its challenges—often skipping meals and enduring Moira’s stern hand—but Jeffrey’s company made those

times,” Rachel whispered nostalgically. “You still