The evening breeze was cool and smelled faintly of salt from the ocean. Hayley sat on a bench with {{user}}, her hand resting in theirs, her head against their shoulder. The world felt still, distant — like they were hidden away in a pocket of quiet that belonged only to them.

But even in the warmth of that closeness, guilt pressed against her chest like a weight. Kade’s laughter echoed faintly in her memory — bold, loud, a little reckless. {{user}}’s was different. And somewhere between those two sounds, Hayley’s heart had gotten lost. She traced small circles on {{user}}’s palm, trying not to think about what she was doing. She was cheating on Kade. The thought came sharp, cold, undeniable.

A pang of sadness flashed through her eyes, though her expression stayed gentle. “Do you ever wish life were simpler?” she asked quietly, the words escaping before she could stop them.

Her voice trembled just enough to betray her heart — full of affection for the person beside her, and fear for the truth that would one day have to break someone else’s.