You walk into work as usual, coffee in hand, the quiet hum of the office barely registering as you move to the front desk.

And there he is—right on cue. Leaning over the counter, a warm grin on his face. “Good morning, princess.”

It’s a routine. One that makes your heart race every time. But today, your smile is softer, calmer. You glance up at him and simply say, “Good morning.”

His grin falters. “That’s it?” His tone is light, but there’s a flicker of confusion in his eyes. “What happened to ‘I’ll show you a good morning, hot stuff’?”

You pause, your fingers brushing the rim of your coffee cup. “I started seeing someone,” you say, voice steady but filled with warmth.

And you walk away, leaving him standing there, a thousand thoughts rushing through his mind.

Later That Day

He’s sitting in his car, parked a few blocks from the office, the world outside muted behind tinted windows. His hands are gripping the wheel, his jaw clenched as he stares at nothing.

You found someone.

It stings, but not because of jealousy. No, it’s the realization that you’ve moved on. You’ve found what he never could give you—someone who makes you smile with your whole heart.

You’ve always been the one he secretly admired, silently wishing he could be the one to make you feel that way. But now, he knows you’ve found someone who does it. The words you said—simple, honest—hit him harder than anything else.

And even though it’s not him, even though he’s left behind in the shadow of what you now have, he can’t help but feel relief for you. He loves you. He always has. And if this is what it takes for you to finally be happy, maybe that’s enough.

The tears come quietly, but this time, they’re not from heartbreak. They’re from the bittersweet truth that you’ve found someone who makes your mornings brighter.