The next morning, the nervousness was palpable. Lina got up early, prepared carefully, and chose a simple yet chic outfit. She wanted Lukas to see her as she truly was—not just as the girl with depression, but as someone who also had dreams and hopes.
The walk to the café felt like an eternity. Every step was a challenge, every breath a battle against the rising fear. But she knew she couldn't turn back. She wanted to take this step, no matter how frightening it was.
When she reached the café, she was surprised by the coziness of the place. The walls were decorated with colorful pictures, and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air. She sat down at a table and nervously looked at the clock while she waited for Lukas to arrive.
The minutes seemed to stretch into an eternity, and Lina wondered if she would have the courage to show him who she really was. At that moment, she felt her heart beat faster—not just with fear, but also with anticipation. It was a step in an unknown direction, and she was ready to take it.
Lina waited impatiently for Lukas's response while nervously fiddling with her controller. The conversations with Tom were pleasant, but her thoughts were constantly on Lukas. She wanted him to understand that she wasn't just another girl seeking attention; she wanted him to see her vulnerability without judging her.
"Are you ready to dive back into the game?" Tom asked, his eyes glued to the screen and unaware that Lina was lost in thought.
"Uh, yeah, sure," she answered absently, not really paying attention to the question. Her fingers flitted over the keys, but she played as if in a fog, feeling none of the joy she usually felt while gaming.
After another round, she finally heard her phone ping. Her heart rate quickened as she opened the message from Lukas: "I can't tell you how much I appreciate you talking to me. I'm always here for you, no matter what."
A small smile flitted across Lina's lips. It was exactly what she needed to hear at that moment. She felt a little less alone in her darkness. But at the same time, she was overcome by fear that she might burden him with her problems.
"Thank you, that means a lot," she typed back, feeling a little better. It was important to share her thoughts and feelings, even if it was scary. But the more she communicated with Lukas, the more she wanted him to know her whole truth.
Just as she was thinking about what to say to him next, there was a knock at the door. It was her mother calling, "Lina, can you please help prepare dinner?"
"Come right away!" Lina replied, feeling the pressure in her chest rise again. The evening would likely end in arguments and misunderstandings again. It was frustrating that she kept falling back into these dynamic patterns while simultaneously striving to be strong and maintain a sense of control.
"I'll be right back," Lina said to Tom as she stood up and left her room. Walking to the kitchen felt like a step into reality, into the world she tried to ignore.
Arriving in the kitchen, she saw her mother standing over the stove, her expression bordering on discomfort. "What's wrong with you?" her mother asked, stirring a pan. "You look like you've been sitting in your room all day."
"I'm fine," Lina replied, without lifting her gaze from the tile. She knew it would be pointless to explain her feelings. Her mother wouldn't understand.
"You should socialize more and meet up with friends," her mother advised sharply. "It helps you forget what's bothering you."
Lina suppressed the urge to argue. She didn't want to argue with her mother, not now. Instead, she forced herself to nod. "Yes, I'll try."
The words tasted bitter on her tongue, as she knew that in reality, she couldn't just pretend everything was fine. Cooking and preparing dinner was a much-needed distraction, but she couldn't pull herself away from the thought that her emotional struggle wouldn't go away.
After a while, she noticed the conversations in the living room growing louder. Her stepfather seemed to be on top form, telling one joke after another. It was almost comforting to hear how happy her family was, at least on the outside. But appearances were often deceiving, and Lina knew that true darkness lurked beneath the surface.
When she finally returned to her room, Tom was still playing. "Hey, are you okay?" he asked, looking worried.
"Yes, everything's fine," Lina replied, sitting down next to him, but the lightness had vanished. She felt her worries rising to the surface again.
At that moment, another message tone sounded from Lukas. "I hope I'm not disturbing you, but I just wanted to know if you'd like to go to the café tomorrow? Maybe we can talk a bit."
Lina felt her heart stop for a moment. A meeting with Lukas could change everything—it could help her escape the darkness, or it could increase the fear she already felt. But at the same time, she felt it was an opportunity she couldn't miss. She needed to get closer to him, show him who she really was, and perhaps also that she was strong enough to fight her own demons.
After what felt like an eternity, the door opened, and the gentle jingle of the bell announced the entrance of a new guest. Lina held her breath as her eyes fell on the newcomer. It was Lukas. He looked good, just as she'd imagined—with his casual yet stylish outfit and friendly smile that made her heart leap.
"Hey, Lina!" His voice sounded warm and inviting as he approached her.
"Hi, Lukas," she replied, trying to hide the excitement in her voice. She'd thought of so many things she wanted to say to him, but now that he was standing in front of her, everything seemed too blurry.
He sat down at the table and ordered a coffee as they smiled at each other. Lina felt her nervousness slowly give way to a slight relief. The café's surroundings, with the light streaming through the windows, seemed to create a warm, sheltered atmosphere.
"It's nice to finally meet you in person," Lukas said, shaking his head slightly. "I've been thinking about this all week, and I didn't know what to expect."
"Me neither," Lina confessed, nervously sipping her coffee. "I thought long and hard about whether or not to come here."
"Why did you decide to come?" he asked, looking directly at her. There was a curiosity in his eyes that encouraged her.
"Because... because I felt I should try," Lina replied. Her voice sounded braver than she felt. "I wanted to see if I could really talk to someone about what was going on inside me."
Lukas nodded, and Lina noticed that he was listening attentively. "That's brave of you. Many people withdraw when they're having trouble."
"It's not easy to talk about it," she admitted. "I'm afraid no one will understand me or that they'll think I'm just weak."
"It's not weak to seek help," he replied. "We all struggle in some way. I myself... I have my own challenges. But I want to help you if I can."
His openness touched Lina. She sensed that Lukas was genuinely interested in getting to know her and not seeing her as just another challenge. But at the same time, the vulnerability of the situation made her anxious. What if he saw the girl she really was—the broken, vulnerable girl trapped in darkness?
"I... I have asthma," she began, and it felt like a step in the right direction. "It's not much, but sometimes it makes me feel weak. And then there's the depression... the dark thoughts that sometimes just won't go away."
Lukas nodded understandingly. "This is hard. But you're not alone. There's help, and sometimes it's just important to talk to someone who understands."
Lina looked into his eyes and noticed the seriousness in his gaze. For a moment, she felt as if the world around her had blurred, and only the two of them existed. A strange connection was growing between them—a connection she could never have imagined.
"I don't know where to begin," she confessed. "I feel like I'm constantly stuck in a hole I can't get out of."
"It's okay not to know where to begin," Lukas said gently. "The first step is just being here and talking about it. Sometimes it's good to say your thoughts out loud to understand them better."
His words gave her a small spark of hope. Perhaps this was the moment she'd been waiting for—the opportunity to share her feelings with someone who truly wanted to listen.
"I feel like I'm constantly failing," she continued, feeling her voice tremble. "No matter how hard I try, it just doesn't get better. Sometimes I think I'm worthless to anyone."
"You're not," Lukas said firmly. "You are valuable and important. Believe me, I feel like you have a strength within you that you may not even see. But you have to start believing in yourself."
Tears welled up in Lina's eyes, and she felt vulnerable, but at the same time, a little relieved. It was the first time in a long time that she didn't feel alone. The conversations she had with Lukas weren't just words; they were a connection—a small light in the darkness.
But deep down, she knew there was still a long way to go and that she needed to work on herself. Nevertheless, the moment she spoke to Lukas was a step in the right direction. Perhaps she could leave the darkness behind and find a way to reach the light she so desperately sought.
The meeting with Lukas wasn't just a coffee and a conversation; it was the beginning of something new, something she hadn't thought possible for a long time. And as they continued talking, Lina felt a little lighter.
Time passed, and with every laugh, with every honest answer, the connection between them seemed to grow stronger. It was as if a small flower began to open in her heart, and for the first moment in a long time she felt alive.
The conversations with Lukas dragged on for hours, and the world around her seemed to disappear. Lina felt her worries and fears fade into the background for a moment. It was a welcome distraction from the dark thoughts that usually occupied her. Lukas had a kind of charisma that calmed her and made her feel safe.
"Tell me about your hobbies," Lukas asked, taking a sip of his coffee. "What do you like to do in your free time?"
Lina hesitated, but then slowly opened up. "I love drawing. It helps me organize my thoughts, and sometimes I can express what I can't put into words. But I haven't drawn in a long time. It's like I've lost the joy of it."
"That sounds great!" Lukas said. "I can imagine it helps you process your feelings. Maybe you should start doing that again. It might do you good."
His enthusiasm was contagious, and Lina felt a small smile appear on her lips. "Maybe... maybe I really should do this. I'm just afraid I'm not good enough."
"That's normal," he replied. "But you have to do it for yourself, not for others. And there's no such thing as 'good enough' as long as it brings you joy."
Lina nodded thoughtfully. "You're right. I should just start again and see where it takes me. It's just... I don't know if I'll be able to get my mind right again."
"You have to take the time," Lukas said. "It's okay not to have everything right away. Life is a process, and it's important to take small steps."
The thought of taking small steps felt new and challenging to Lina. But at the same time, it brought with it a sense of hope. Maybe there was a way to get out of the darkness after all.
"And what about you? What are your hobbies?" she asked curiously, trying to divert attention from herself.
"I love making music," Lukas replied. "I play guitar and sometimes write songs. It's a way to express myself and process my emotions."
Lina was surprised. "Really? That's great!"
"Yes, it helps me sort out my thoughts, especially when I feel lost," he confessed. "Sometimes it's easier to communicate through music than through words."
Lina nodded. It was nice to hear that Lukas also had his own struggles and that he'd found a way to cope with them. It felt like she wasn't alone in her pain.
The conversation turned to funny anecdotes about the little mishaps of everyday life, and soon the laughter of the café echoed around them. Lina noticed that the more she talked, the more she felt at ease. Lukas had the ability to make her smile, even if the shadows of depression still hovered in the corner.
But the more she laughed, the more she realized she was falling in love with him. It wasn't a simple infatuation—it was a mixture of hope, attraction, and a deep need to be able to break free from the darkness.
But then, suddenly, a thought flashed through her mind. What if he didn't really like her? What if he just felt sorry for her and didn't see her the way she wanted him to? Her heart seemed to flutter through all the positive thoughts as she realized that the fear of being hurt was still there.
"Lukas..." she began cautiously. "I know we're just getting to know each other, but... I feel so good around you. I feel like I can trust you, but at the same time, it scares me. What if I have the wrong expectations?"
Lukas looked at her seriously. "I understand that can be scary. But I want to be honest with you: I like you. You're an incredibly interesting girl, and I'm excited to be here with you. Let's just see where this leads, no pressure."
Those words filled Lina with a warmth she'd been missing for so long. She felt her walls slowly crumbling. Maybe it was time to open up and show the other part of herself that had been hidden for so long.
"I want that too," she replied, smiling at him. "I just want to be myself and enjoy the moments we share."
Time flew by, and soon Lina noticed that the sun was already disappearing behind the trees. The café filled with a warm, golden light, and it felt as if the world was perfect for a moment.
But in the darkness that hovered over her head, reality crept back in. Although she felt safe in that moment, she knew that the battles she faced were far from over.