The girl ran after the car, her breaths coming in ragged gasps as she pushed herself forward with every ounce of strength she had. Her footsteps echoed on the empty street, her heart pounding as she reached out in desperation. The vehicle, sleek and dark under the dim glow of the streetlights, sped forward without hesitation, its driver showing no signs of slowing down.

She called out, her voice barely rising above the sound of the tires against the pavement. Her face, flushed from exertion, bore an expression of sheer urgency. Her hands clenched into fists, then opened again as if trying to grasp at something intangible—the last remnants of hope slipping through her fingers. But no matter how fast she ran, the car remained just out of reach, an unattainable promise disappearing into the night.

The driver, seemingly unmoved by her frantic efforts, did not stop. If anything, the car seemed to accelerate, its red taillights glowing like distant embers. Just as she thought all was lost, the window on the passenger side rolled down slightly. Her eyes lit up, a flicker of hope igniting within her. She kept running, willing her legs to move faster, refusing to give up.

Then, without warning, something small and weighty was tossed from the car. It landed a few feet ahead of her, bouncing once before settling on the ground. The girl hesitated, her momentum faltering. She stared at the object, realization dawning upon her as the car, and the person inside, disappeared around the corner without a second glance.

She stumbled forward and dropped to her knees, her fingers trembling as she reached for what had been thrown her way. It was a small, crumpled envelope—one she recognized instantly. Her name was scrawled hastily across the front in handwriting she knew all too well. A chill ran down her spine, not from the night air, but from the weight of what this moment truly meant.

She slowly unfolded the paper inside, her vision blurred by unshed tears. The words were brief, almost careless, yet they struck her harder than any blow ever could. It was a farewell, curt and unfeeling, a confirmation of what she had feared all along. The finality of it settled heavily in her chest, pressing down like an invisible force.

For a long moment, she simply sat there, staring at the letter as if willing the words to change. The sound of the city carried on around her—distant voices, the occasional honk of a horn, the whisper of the wind weaving through the narrow streets. Yet in her world, everything was silent. Empty.

A lone tear traced its way down her cheek, followed by another, until they spilled freely, unchecked. The exhaustion from running, the ache in her legs, the rapid beating of her heart—it all paled in comparison to the hollowness settling inside her. She had chased after something that had already been lost, and now, all she had left was a piece of paper and a bitter memory.

Slowly, she stood up. The night stretched endlessly before her, and the car was long gone. She wiped her face with the back of her sleeve, tucking the letter into her pocket as she turned away. She didn’t know where she was going, only that she had to keep moving. One step after another, she walked forward, disappearing into the city’s embrace, leaving behind only echoes of a chase that had ended in heartbreak.