CHAPTER 42:THE OUTSIDER
I used to think that what Reuben and I shared was completely indestructible—that our unspoken bond was strong enough to withstand any outside pressure or silent doubt. I believed that even without official labels, we belonged perfectly in each other's lives. I was wrong. Silence is not a safe harbor; it is a dangerous breeding ground for misunderstandings, and walls built from unspoken fears can easily crush you from the inside. It started with the subtle shifts. Reuben was staying later and later at the accountancy building for their mandatory mock board reviews. And every time I walked past their department or glanced at the campus coffee shop after my library shift, Cheska was there. She would be sitting right next to him, sliding her notes into his space, her laughter echoing t
- Writer
