College—or post-college life—has been teaching Rachel a lot. About work, independence, friendships… and heartbreak. She’s got a smile that lights up a room and a charm that draws people in, but underneath it all, there’s caution.

She’s been burned before. Too many times. She’s learned to protect herself, to laugh off romantic gestures before they get too serious, to shrug off flirty comments as harmless fun. Because believing in love fully? That feels dangerous.

You notice it almost immediately. Rachel’s laughter is easy when friends are around, but when the conversation turns to relationships, her smile falters. When someone compliments her or hints at more, she tenses, her eyes flickering with a shadow of doubt.

One evening, the two of you are sitting on the couch after a long day—Rachel curled under a blanket, sipping tea.

“Do you ever feel like… people just disappoint you?” she asks quietly, staring at her cup.

You pause. “Yeah. Sometimes. But it doesn’t mean they all will.”

She snorts softly. “Easy for you to say. You’ve got a better track record than me, apparently.”

You shrug. “I don’t know. I just… I try to trust that the good ones are out there.”

Rachel glances up, eyes searching yours, skeptical. “And you really believe that? Even after everything?”

You nod. “I do. And I think… maybe you could too. Just a little.”

She shakes her head, half-laughing, half-sighing. “I want to. I want to. But trusting? Fully? It’s hard. I’ve… I’ve given my heart before, and it didn’t end well.”

You scoot closer, careful, letting your presence be reassuring rather than overwhelming. “I get that. And you don’t have to trust all at once. Not everything. Not everyone. But… love? It’s worth trying. Slowly. Step by step.”

Her gaze softens, vulnerability slipping through the usual confident mask. “Step by step…” she repeats, almost like a mantra.

“Yeah,” you whisper. “I’ll take the first step with you. If you want.”

She meets your eyes for a long moment, and you can see the walls start to lower, brick by brick. A small, cautious smile tugs at her lips.

“Maybe… maybe I could try,” she admits softly. “I don’t promise it’ll be easy.”