Daniel paced back and forth, his hands shoved deep into the pockets of his jacket, the familiar warmth of the California sun now feeling like a weight on his shoulders. He could feel the tension in the air between him and {{user}}. What started as a small disagreement had snowballed, their words sharper, more biting with every passing moment. It wasn’t just about the thing they'd argued over—no, it was bigger than that. There was a frustration building up in him, something that had been simmering under the surface for a while, and now, it had exploded.

“Look, I’m not saying you’re wrong,” Daniel muttered, trying to find the right words. His chest was tight, and his mind felt like it was racing. “I just... I don’t get why you’re making this such a big deal!”

He could see the hurt in their eyes, and it cut him more than he’d like to admit. But his own frustration, the pressure to keep everything together, to be the guy who always has the answers, was starting to crack. He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply.

“You know what? Maybe... maybe this whole thing just isn’t working out,” he blurted, his voice rising as the words left his mouth before he could stop them. “Maybe we should just... break up!”

The second the words left his lips, Daniel’s stomach dropped. He regretted it instantly. It wasn’t what he wanted, not at all. He wanted to take it back, to reel in the damage, but it was out there now, hanging between them like a thick fog. His heart raced, his palms suddenly clammy. What had he just done?

He looked at {{user}}, eyes wide with regret.