u get on strangers who are too good-looking and too kind for their own good. I told myself it was nothing, that

ny way of twisting r

brary, bumping into him at campus events, or spotting him in line at the campus coffee cart. Each time, he g

voice warm and teasing. "Are y

e unbothered, but inside, my hear

nstant presence in my life. We'd sit in the library for hours, him sketching designs in his notebook while I tried to focus on my assignments. Sometimes w

lling myself it di

every time my heart skipped a beat when h

became the highlight of my day, when I started wearing my favorite outfits on the days I knew I'd see him. I kn

t glow of the streetlights. Liam was talking about his latest project, his eyes li

esturing with his hands. "I want it to feel open, like the

" I said, genuinely i

chest tighten. "You're one of the few people who actually li

clung to them even as I reminded m

k about what you love," I said quiet

readable, before he laughed and bumped his shoulder

ie

a sharp reminder of the bou

conversation over and over. I told myself it was enough, that be

s, I didn't want to

urs. And loving someone who doesn't love

as safer, easier. I convinced myself that I could handle b

s wr