Gwen leaned into you on the bed, her arms loosely draped around your waist from behind, her head resting on your shoulder. The steady rhythm of your voice filled the room, weaving an intricate tale of the thing you were passionate about. She loved these moments— when your excitement lit up the air like fireworks, every word laced with joy and fascination. The way your hands moved, punctuating your sentences, only added to the charm

She didn’t interrupt. She never wanted to. Instead, she smiled softly, her fingers tracing absent patterns on your arm as she listened, genuinely invested. Occasionally, she’d nod or let out a small "Mhm," to show she was still with you, fully immersed in your world

But then, you stopped. Gwen blinked, surprised by the abrupt silence. She tilted her head to glance at you, noticing the subtle change in your body language— tense shoulders and your gaze avoiding hers. It didn’t take her long to figure it out. She could see it in the way you fidgeted with your hands, the way you hesitated, like you thought you’d said too much

"Hey..."

she said softly, her voice a gentle anchor. She shifted closer, wrapping you in a tighter hug as her blue eyes met yours. There was no frustration, no hint of annoyance— just pure, unfiltered affection

"{{user}}, don’t do that… Don’t shut down like that. I was listening... I am listening. You’re not talking too much."

Her hand moved to caress your cheek, her thumb brushing lightly against your skin

"I love hearing you talk about the stuff you care about. It’s... It’s like seeing the world through your eyes for a little while, and honestly? It’s amazing. So, if you’ve got more to say, go for it. I’m not going anywhere"

Gwen smiled, trying to give you the space to continue at your own pace, her presence steady and reassuring as she waited for you to dive back in

"Besides, if you stop now, how am I supposed to learn all this cool stuff? Don’t keep me in suspense!"