Glitch Girl

Neil sat at the table, barely moving. He was focused on his work. Laura came in and he looked at her for a moment. She was smiling and looked slightly nervous. Neil showed no emotion in response. Despite her nervousness, he only asked: "What?" "Neil, I think you still need to rest, change the environment. I know this project is important to you, but you need to take breaks! Please, find some time, go for a walk with me and Walter somewhere! I've been wanting to introduce you for a long time." "You and your Walter again..." Neil mumbled. "Is that all?" He clearly showed no interest in rest, or Walter, or new acquaintances in general. Laura frowned at him: "Why can't you at least take a break, freshen up, have fun with us?" "My work is more interesting than your Walter." "If you only knew how worried I am about you! Please pay attention to how you work, your health is important to me... I always try to improve the situation between us, but you don't seem to even realize that I need you by my side, like I did when we were kids..." "You have to understand that this is impossible, I'm busy with my project, this is my life's work, I can't just leave it and go have fun with you." Laura's eyes filled with tears, the situation was getting out of control. "I understand... But you don't even listen to me, can't you see that... Everything I try to tell you, you just ignore! I miss the moment when you were happy next to me, when we were together, and not when you're immersed in your work and don't care about anything else... Look at yourself in the mirror, you don't feel sorry for yourself at all!" "What kind of drama are you creating here? All this talk won't change anything, stop it right now!" Neil looked at his sister with tired eyes, her tears seemed not to touch his heart, he looked irritated. "You've become just like your father!" Laura flared up and left, slamming the door. Neil sighed and continued working on his project. At the end of the working day, returning home, Laura looked at the photo, standing alone on the cold shelf. It was depicted her family, then it seemed to her that everything was fine, because her brother was nearby... "I need to get distracted!" Laura thought and looked at her phone. The woman scrolled through her contacts and her gaze fell on Walter's number. "Walter... Should I tell him?" Laura thought. She also paid attention to her mother's number. An image of a stern father, looking at her with contempt, flashed through her thoughts, and the woman shuddered. He had always been cold and distant towards her, but the look of disdain on his face when he forbade her any contact with her mother haunted her to this day. "No, I'd better call Walter..." Walter answered on the first ring: "Hello?" "Hi, Walter, how are you? It's me, Laura." "Oh, it's good to hear from you again, Laura! Everything is fine, and how are you?" Laura fell silent. Without waiting for an answer, Walter asked: "Can I come over?" "C-come over? So right away?! Well... fine." Walter arrived half an hour later. Laura met him at the door and hugged him. She led him into the kitchen and sat him down at the table so they could talk in peace and, if necessary, have a drink. Laura told the young man about her quarrel with Neil, about how she was very worried about his health, about how she had completely lost touch with him, although they used to communicate well. "Hm, sometimes it happens and loved ones don't care about you... My parents generally preferred to drink themselves to death rather than spend time with their own son. I'm used to being ignored, to being neglected... However..." a smug grin appeared on Walter's face. Laura looked at him, puzzled. The young man, seeing the woman's bewilderment, added: "Now I've found good friends and I'm not so lonely anymore! Besides, maybe you really should let him go? After all, it's his choice... And you can rely on me anyway!" "Maybe so..." Laura sighed. "But I don't think Neil would just suddenly decide to give up on me, he's always nervous and tired... I just wanted to help him..." "I understand your concern for Neil, but you shouldn't exhaust yourself trying to save someone who doesn't want it. You deserve someone who will prioritize you and your well-being, just as you do theirs. Maybe you should consider someone who will appreciate you and your concern, like me..." Walter took her hands gently and smiled. "Thank you, Walter," Laura said quietly. "I was so caught up in trying to help Neil that I didn't even think about what was best for me... Maybe it's time to let go and move on..." "I'm here for you, Laura..."