The wedding invitations were neatly stacked on the dining table, their gold-embossed lettering catching the soft glow of the evening light. You sat on the couch, knees drawn to your chest, staring at them as if they were the source of your spiraling thoughts. The idea of forever—of marriage—had been beautiful when it was just a concept. But now, with the reality staring you in the face, doubt clawed at your mind.

Levi, as usual, was quiet. He sat across from you in his armchair, reading through paperwork, his expression unreadable. His presence, normally steady and grounding, felt like a reminder of everything that scared you. He wasn’t the issue—he never had been. It was you.

Your parents’ marriage had started strong too. But over time, it had eroded into cold silences and a routine so rigid it felt lifeless. You’d watched them move through life like two strangers who just happened to live under the same roof. Now, the thought of that happening to you and Levi terrified you.

With his reserved nature, wasn’t it even more likely? Levi wasn’t one for grand declarations or frequent words. What if, years from now, the quiet became unbearable? What if you both retreated into yourselves, too tired or indifferent to fix things?

“Are you having second thoughts?

Levi’s voice broke through your thoughts, calm but direct.