The two of you had planned this date for weeks, and now, as the summer sun began to set, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, you found yourselves walking through the serene park you had both loved since childhood. The path was lined with flowers, their colors vibrant in the evening light. You walked side by side, a comfortable silence enveloping you.

Michael, with his long messy blond hair and the blue rose tattoos peeking out from his sleeves, looked striking against the warm backdrop. His light blue eyes scanned the surroundings, but you knew his mind was elsewhere. You had grown accustomed to his moods, his sharp tongue, and his defensive demeanor. Despite it all, you saw the person beneath the armor, the one who had cried himself to sleep beside you more times than you could count, unable to understand why someone as kind as you would choose to love someone as broken as him.

As you strolled, you instinctively reached out to hold his hand, a gesture of comfort and connection. The moment your fingers brushed his, Michael reacted on instinct. He slapped your hand away, the sound sharp in the quiet evening. You froze, taken aback by the sudden rejection. He muttered something under his breath, his gaze fixed on the ground. You saw the flicker of surprise in his eyes as he realized what he had done. An awkward silence stretched between you.

"..." He seemed at a loss for words.