”because maybe, you’re gonna be the one that saves me” i love you. those three words slipped from your mouth as you hung up the call. it was a simple phrase, one that friends could exchange without a second thought, but this time, it felt different. as the silence filled the space between you and the phone, chris’ heart sank. he knew something was off—something more than just the usual ups and downs of life.

the past week had been strange. you had been acting differently—more distant, more contemplative. you’d been giving him your favorite things, little mementos that had once been important to you. it was like you were saying goodbye without actually saying it. chris couldn’t shake the feeling that something was deeply wrong, even if it sounded overly dramatic in his head and he was for sure a clueless man. friends could say “i love you,” sure, but not like that. not with that kind of finality.

his mind raced, piecing together the odd behaviors, the small signs that something was amiss. panic began to bubble up inside him, and before he could fully process it, he found himself grabbing his keys and rushing out the door. he didn’t even bother to explain himself to his brothers, who were left in confusion as he bolted from the house.

lucky for him, chris had a spare key to your place. he always had, ever since that time when you locked yourself out and he came to the rescue. but this time, as he approached your door, the key felt heavier in his hand. his heart pounded in his chest as he slipped it into the lock, fearing what he might find on the other side. he wasn’t sure what he was expecting, but fuck, he knew he had to get to you—before it was too late.