I’ve always been careful.

But I can’t lie to myself anymore.

What started as something that was supposed to be steady and simple, something we could both walk away from, has become this thing neither of us knows how to be without. There is no going back.

Whatever this is, it’s growing into something bigger than either of us planned for.

And for the first time in a long time, I don’t want to run from it.

I’d like to stay.