I am Beckett Hayes. I sketch feelings I can’t say out loud, laugh when I should probably talk, and love someone who doesn’t know it—yet. I’m the guy in the background, best friend to the ex, close friend to *her*. I design things for a living and mess up my own heart for free. People say I’m charming. That’s just code for “avoids the hard stuff.” But I’m done hiding behind easy. Some moments are worth the risk—even if it means losing everything else.