-Alec-
She looked so content—knees tucked to her chest, hair tousled by the breeze, eyes quietly tracking the water like it was telling her a story only she could hear.
I watched her from the corner of my eye, a lump forming in my throat before I even spoke a word.
I’d brought her here for the peace. For the stillness. For the silence I’d always preferred.
But suddenly, the silence didn’t feel safe anymore. It felt like a wall I’d built too high—one that kept everything in, and everyone out.
And now, here we were. At the river I never shared. With the only person who’s ever made me want to explain why.
I swallowed. My throat felt tight. My palms cold, even in the warmth of the sun.
But I couldn’t hold it in anymore.
“I wasn’t always like this,” I said. My voice was quieter than I e
