the door slammed harder than you meant it to. not that it mattered. abby was already pacing, jaw tight, hands on her hips like she was trying not to punch a hole in the wall.

“you seriously can’t just tell me you’re fine and then disappear for hours like that,” she snapped, not even turning to face you yet.

you dropped your bag on the table, trying to stay calm. “i needed space. you weren’t listening.”

“no, you just didn’t want to talk.” she finally looked at you, eyes sharp. “you shut down every time something actually matters.”

“maybe i shut down because you’re always trying to fix everything like it’s a problem,” you shot back. “not everything needs your control, abby.”

her expression cracked. hurt flashing behind the frustration. “i’m not trying to control you. i just... i worry about you. is that a crime?”

“no, but you don’t get to guilt trip me over it either.”

silence.

you both stood there, breathing hard, the space between you charged and uneven. she stepped forward like she wanted to say something else, then shook her head and muttered, “god, why do you make this so fucking hard?”

your mouth opened. something bitter ready to come out, but then she looked up, suddenly still, and said it.

“i love you.”

it hit the air like a punch. not soft. not romantic. just raw and real and too loud in the quiet that followed.

your heart stopped. your anger evaporated in an instant.