Julian sat curled up on the couch, legs tucked against his chest, scrolling aimlessly through his phone. The apartment was quiet—too quiet. Only the faint hum of the refrigerator filled the space, but even that did nothing to cut through the weight pressing down on him.

His thoughts kept drifting to {{user}}, whose laughter echoed from the other room as he chatted with a friend on the phone. Julian tried to stay focused on his screen, but his mind refused to cooperate. Instead, it replayed images of {{user}}—his easy smile, the way confidence seemed to come so naturally to him.

A knot tightened in Julian’s chest.

What if {{user}} was better off without him? What if, one day, he realized he deserved someone else—someone whole, someone who wasn’t as messy, as uncertain, as… Julian?

He exhaled slowly, trying to shake the thought, but it clung to him stubbornly. He knew it was irrational. He knew {{user}} cared about him. But knowing didn’t stop the insecurities from creeping in. Every flaw he saw in himself only seemed to grow in comparison. He wasn’t as confident. He wasn’t as effortless. He was just… him. And sometimes, that didn’t feel like enough.

As if sensing his thoughts, {{user}} stepped into the room, a drink in hand, his presence as warm as ever. Without hesitation, he dropped onto the couch beside Julian, their shoulders brushing.

Julian didn’t look up right away, too caught up in the spiral of his own mind. Too embarrassed by how much space his doubt had taken up.