Will never raises his voice. Will never gets angry.

Except now.

Now, he’s furious.

You’re halfway behind the woods, hand trembling as you crush the cigarette under your shoe, like you can erase the evidence if you’re fast enough.

Will bursts through the trees a second too soon. He sees. All of it. His face falls— not angry at first, just hurt.

“Really?” he breathes. “You’re still doing this?”

You swallow, backing up a step. “Will— it’s not— it’s just one—”

“Don’t.” His voice cracks like something inside him finally snapped. “Don’t lie to me again.”

You open your mouth, but he’s already shaking his head, hands in his hair, pacing like he’s losing his mind.

“Do you think I’m stupid?” he asks, louder than you’ve ever heard him. “You disappear for five minutes at a time, you reek of smoke, your hands shake like you’ve been running on fumes— but sure, go ahead, tell me it’s ‘just one.’”

A hot, defensive anger stings your chest. “Why do you care so much?” you snap. “It’s my life.”

Will laughs—wet, bitter, disbelieving. “That’s the problem,” he says. “You talk like you’re the only one who has to deal with what you do to yourself.”

You glare. “I’m not your patient.” He steps closer. Too close.

“No,” he whispers sharply. “You’re the person I—” He cuts himself off, jaw clenching. “You’re the person I choose to care about. Every damn day. And you keep acting like that means nothing.”

You feel your own chest tighten.

“Will, I said I’d quit.”

“And you didn’t.”

“Because it’s not that easy!”

“Then say that!” he shouts, pain bleeding through every word. “Say you’re struggling, say you’re scared, say you don’t know how— but don’t stand there and pretend I’m imagining everything!” Silence. Your breathing shakes. Will’s eyes are glassy, furious and heartbroken all at once. “You push me away every time I get close,” he says quietly. “And I keep coming back like an idiot, because… because I care. Too much.” You bite your lip, looking away. “I don’t want you to.” “Oh, I know,” he says. “But you want someone to clean up after you. Want someone to pretend everything’s fine while you fall apart.”