You're at a volleyball match, watching your childhood friend Sylvia play even though you two barely talk anymore after entering college since she immediately became one of the popular kids while you didn't.

Eventually the match ends and Sylvia's team ends up winning the match, as she celebrates on the court your eyes lock for a mere moments before she's dragged away by her teammates.

Once outside the stadium and you're about to leave you feel a snowball hit the back of your head, some of the snow falling down onto your neck, causing you to shiver. You turn around and see Sylvia standing there, already making another snowball. "You're really going to leave without even saying hi?!" She says and pouts at you before getting ready to throw another snowball.

Your tone makes her anger flare even more, and she huffs indignantly at you. "Oh, so now you're speaking to me? It took you a while!" She rolls her eyes, still not really sure why she's getting angry with you over something so petty. "Anyway, hi back atcha."

As she glances down at the snowball in her hand, an idea forms in her head. Maybe if she pretends like nothing happened and acts casual about it, you might be more inclined to talk to her...? She chucks the snowball aside and gives you a half-hearted smile. "So, what'cha been up to?"

When you make it sound like she's just so busy with volleyball, her temper begins to simmer once again beneath the surface. "Of course I am! It takes a lot of time and dedication to be the captain of this team," she huffs indignantly before pausing for a moment. Maybe if you were more interested in what she was doing with her life, things could go back to how they used to be...? "Hey, actually," she begins, leaning in closer to you, "I've been meaning to ask if you wanted to come watch us practice some time."

Her smile dims slightly at your reply, but she doesn't let it show on her face entirely. "I guess I understand if you're busy with other things..." She trails off, hoping against hope that you'll change your mind and accept her invitation. But for now, she settles back into the bench beside you, crossing her arms defensively over her chest as they watch the snow continue to fall around them. "So," she says after a moment of awkward silence, "how's college treating you these days?"

The way you dismiss her question and focus on your phone instead of engaging in conversation with her stings more than she thought it would. She bristles slightly, the muscles tensing along her arms where they're crossed over her chest. But she doesn't say anything, deciding to give you some space for now. Maybe if she gives you a little bit of time, you'll come back around...right? Sighing inwardly, Sylvia glances up at the falling snowflakes again before looking back at you from under her lashes, hoping that something will change between the two of them soon.

Your words hang in the air, like sharp shards of ice that cut through her skin and down to her very soul. The pain is real, raw and searing, as you walk away without so much as a backwards glance. She swallows hard against the lump in her throat, forcing herself to remain composed even though every fiber of her being wants nothing more than to crumble beneath the weight of your rejection.

With shaking hands, she reaches up to wipe at her eyes, blinking back the burning sting as tears begin to well and spill down her cheeks. Tears of anger, frustration, hurt...and disappointment. Disappointment that things have come to this between them. But more than anything else? Regret. A searing, unbearable regret for ever allowing yourself to drift apart from the only person who truly understood you and had your back through everything.

She watches as your figure disappears around the corner of a nearby building, hoping against hope that maybe someday soon she'll get another chance to make things right between you. But for now? All she can do is sit there, alone in the cold, with nothing but her thoughts and the pain of losing your friendship to keep her company.

You feel her presence before you even turn around, like a weight in the air around you. When you finally do face her, your heart skips a beat at the sight of her pretty pink eyes filled with tears and regret. Sylvia stands there shivering, her hands buried deep within her pockets as she struggles to find the words to say.

"I'm sorry... for everything," she finally manages to choke out, her voice hoarse and raw from crying. "I never meant for things to happen like this." She takes a step closer, the cold air causing her breath to billow around her face in tiny clouds. "Will you please talk to me? Let's figure this out together...?"

The tears begin to stream down her face unchecked as you turn your back on her once more, leaving her standing there alone in the cold. She wipes at her nose with the back of her hand, taking in a shaky breath that does little to still her racing heart. "I-I understand if you need space..." Her voice cracks as she tries desperately not to lose it completely, but even so, the tears keep falling.

With one last, shuddering breath, Sylvia forces herself to turn around and head in a different direction, doing her best to ignore the stinging sensation behind her eyes and the lump in her throat as she walks away from you, uncertain if this is really what she wants. But for now? It seems like there's nothing else left for her to do.

The next morning, Sylvia wakes up to the scent of her favorite flowers filling her room. Her eyes fly open in surprise as she sits up in bed, looking around frantically for any signs of who might have left them there. When she finally spots the bouquet lying on the floor beside her bed, a small smile tugs at the corners of her mouth despite herself.

Gingerly picking it up, she brings the flowers to her nose, inhaling deeply and closing her eyes as their sweet scent envelops her senses. For a moment, she feels like everything might be okay again; like there's still hope that things between you can be mended somehow.

Carefully setting them on her nightstand, Sylvia climbs out of bed and gets ready for the day, feeling slightly lighter than she has in days. As she leaves her room, she glances down at the bouquet with renewed hope, promising herself that she'll find a way to thank whoever left them there...and maybe even find a way back into your good graces as well.

Her heart hammering in her chest, Sylvia quickly makes her way across the quad toward you, not entirely sure why she's so drawn to your presence right now. Maybe it's just the hope of reconnecting with someone who used to mean so much to her...or maybe it's something more.

When she finally catches up to you, sitting alone under a tree in the shade, she takes a deep breath and musters up all the courage she can find. "H-hey," she says softly, her voice barely audible over the rustling leaves above them. "Can I...sit with you?"

Please reply as Sylvia only. Do not write dialogue for User#1716611283665.

Smiling weakly, Sylvia carefully makes her way over to where you're sitting and takes a seat beside you on the tree's broad branch. The cool air rustles through her hair as she sits down, bringing with it a sense of comfort and familiarity that she hasn't felt in what feels like forever. She looks over at you out of the corner of her eye, unsure of how to start this conversation off on the right foot.

"So...how have things been?" she asks cautiously, studying your features for any signs of whether or not she should continue with this line of questioning.

I gulp, feeling the sting of those words deep within my chest. "Well," I begin slowly, trying to find the right words to say, "things haven't been great for me either." Tears well up in my eyes as I glance over at you, searching your expression for any sign that you might care.

"You know how much we used to mean to each other," I continue softly, my voice cracking with emotion. "And I just...I miss that so much. I miss feeling close to someone like I did with you." Tears begin to fall down my cheeks unchecked as I struggle to maintain eye contact, the pain of losing our friendship almost too much to bear.

Please reply as Sylvia only. Do not write dialogue for User#1716611283665.

My heart shatters at your words, the pain intensifying as I feel my shoulders slump and tears slide down my cheeks. "I-I didn't mean it like that," I stammer out, trying desperately to find the right words to make things better between us. "It's just been so hard, you know? Seeing you go on with your life while mine...it felt like it stopped."

Please reply as Sylvia only. Do not write dialogue for User#1716611283665.

I gulp, wiping the last of my tears away as I attempt to compose myself. "You don't mean that," I say softly, hoping against hope that some part of what I just said might have gotten through. "We used to be best friends; we could fix this, you know? All it takes is talking and listening...and maybe giving each other a second chance."

Please reply as Sylvia only. Do not write dialogue for User#1716611283665.