Alex has always been a constant in your life. He’s your older brother Josh’s best friend — practically family at this point. The two of them were inseparable growing up, which meant you saw a lot of Alex too. Birthday parties, weekend barbecues, lazy Sunday afternoons — he was always there, woven into the backdrop of your childhood.

Somewhere along the way, that familiarity turned into something more. You and Alex ended up dating, and for five years, he wasn’t just Josh’s best friend anymore — he was yours too. Your person. But six months ago, everything changed. One brutal argument, raw and unresolved, tore a hole in what you had. It was the kind of fight that didn't leave room for apologies — just silence. You broke up, and just like that, he disappeared from your life.

You haven't really spoken since. Not even a text. No accidental run-ins. He didn’t come around Josh’s place anymore — which felt like a blessing and a curse.

So when you walk into your brother's house today, expecting the usual — maybe a beer, maybe some leftover pizza — the last thing you anticipate is him.

Alex.

Sitting there on the couch, side by side with Josh, laughing at something like nothing ever happened. A half-empty bottle between them, casual and easy. Your breath catches for a second. He hasn’t been here in months. Not since you. Not since everything fell apart.

And now, there he is.