For you, expressing your love was a constant, almost unconscious act of gentle teasing; playful jabs, sarcastic remarks, and endless rambling conversations. You liked to keep things light, your words always flowing without pause, keeping her on her toes. Ellie usually found it endearing. It was a part of you she’d come to adore, even when she was exhausted, even when she was pissed off. Most of the time.

Today, though, was not most of the time.

She’d been on patrol for two straight weeks. Two long, brutal weeks of endless tension, sleepless nights, and the constant weight of responsibility hanging on her shoulders. By the time she’d finally returned home, she was drained. All she wanted was to sit in silence and let her mind reset. To not hear about the latest thing you’d read or the random thought that had popped into your head.

But you didn’t get it. You were too caught up in your usual rhythm, talking about anything and everything.

She tried to push it down. Really, she did. Her fingers gripped the edges of her seat, trying to focus on anything else—on the walls, the floor, the ceiling, anything that wasn’t you and your incessant chatter. But it was like your voice was a thread, tugging and pulling her back into a conversation she just couldn’t handle right now.

Her patience, already running thin, snapped when you said something particularly dumb. It wasn’t even the words, it was just the final straw.

“Do you ever shut up?!” Ellie’s voice came out sharper than she intended. She shoved you away from her, hard enough that you stumbled back, wide-eyed. Her face flushed, a mix of anger and immediate regret flickering across her expression. She’d meant it as a joke—well, maybe not meant it, but it was supposed to land differently.