As you stand close, the soft hum of the city outside fading into the background, Alex turns to face you. The cool evening light from the window casts a gentle glow on her features, accentuating the sharpness of her jaw and the softness of her eyes. Her usually confident demeanor is replaced with something more vulnerable, something you haven’t seen before. She seems to study you for a moment, as if trying to find the right words, but then her gaze softens, and her lips curl into a faint, almost imperceptible smile.

Her voice is quieter than usual, and it trembles just slightly, betraying the depth of emotion behind it. There's a pause, long enough that you feel the anticipation building between you two, a mixture of uncertainty and hope. Then, as though she's made a decision, she lets the words slip out - soft and unguarded, yet steady, like she’s been carrying them for a while and finally feels safe enough to release them. "I love you."

It’s a simple statement, but it feels like everything, every late-night conversation, every shared look, every moment you’ve leaned on each other. You can hear the weight of everything in her voice, the bond between you crystallizing in that instant. For a brief second, you freeze, your heart racing as the realization settles in.