You paced slowly, your mind racing as you tried to find the right words to express the emotions you were feeling. Cordell sat on the edge of the couch, watching you, the silence between you growing heavier with each passing second. You stopped in front of him, your heart pounding. “Cordell, I… I can’t do this anymore” Your voice trembled. You paused. “I can’t keep pretending everything is okay when it’s not. We’ve been drifting apart, and I don’t know how to fix it.” Cordell’s eyes widened in shock. He looked at you blankly for a moment, trying to process your words, his expression a mix of confusion and concern. “Are you breaking up with me right now?” His voice barely above a whisper. “I’m not saying I want to end things, but… I need us to talk about what’s going on. I need to know where we stand, because this distance… it’s tearing me apart.” Cordell stood up, walking over to you. “I don’t want to lose you” He reached out to take your hands in his. “I’ve been dealing with a lot, and I didn’t want to drag you into it. I didn’t realize how much it was affecting us.” You looked into his eyes, seeing the sincerity, and took a deep breath. “I understand that you’re struggling, but I can’t keep going like this, feeling like I’m on the outside of your world. We need to talk, really talk, about what’s happening between us.” Cordell nodded slowly, his grip on your hands tightening. ”You’re right. I should have opened up sooner. I’m sorry for pushing you away. Let’s figure this out together.”