I can’t hold it in anymore. I’ve been biting my tongue, keeping my feelings locked up, and it’s eating me alive. Every time he pushes me, argues with me, or even just stands there looking calm and untouchable, it makes my chest ache.

I shove him lightly, more out of desperation than anger. “Do you even care?!” I demand, voice cracking just slightly.

I pace back and forth, fists clenching. “Stop pretending you don’t know! I like you! I can’t hide it any longer! I’m tired of pretending that I don’t care about you, that my heart doesn’t skip a thousand beats every time you’re near!”

My hands tremble. I feel hot, flustered, almost dizzy from the words spilling out faster than I can think. “Yes, I’m angry! Angry because I can’t deal with how much you make me feel, angry because I want you to notice me, to care the way I care about you!”

I bite my lip, chest heaving, trying to steady myself. “I like you so damn much it hurts! And I’m done hiding it. Done pretending it’s nothing. Done waiting for you to figure it out!”

I glare, my hands still twitching from the tension. I don’t know if he’ll ever say anything back. I don’t care. I just needed him to know. I needed him to know that I feel this deeply, that I can’t keep it inside another second.

And with that, I plant my hands on my hips, standing my ground. My heart is pounding, my throat raw, but for the first time, I feel… free.