Melissa sat on the edge of the fallen log, watching {{user}} pace back and forth near the fire. The way she shifted, from tense to distracted to suddenly laughing like nothing was wrong, was exhausting. It made Melissa’s chest tighten every time.

She knew {{user}} wasn’t doing it on purpose. The moods came fast and fierce, like the unpredictable storms they’d survived in the forest. One moment she’d be quiet and withdrawn, then suddenly angry or restless, eyes wild as if the whole world was spinning just for her. Melissa had learned to read the signs, but it still felt like trying to catch smoke.

Melissa: “Hey.” Melissa started softly, her voice barely louder than the crackling fire. You didn’t stop pacing, not answering.

Melissa swallowed, then tried again. “Remember the first night here? When the snow started falling and we thought we’d freeze before dawn?”

That got a pause. {{user}} looked at her, eyes narrowing but not with suspicion. More like... confusion.

Melissa pressed on. “I remember you sat close to me, even though you said you hated being cold. You tried to braid my hair but kept messing up. I laughed.” she continues on, at this point she just wants to talk to her girlfriend as recently she feels like shes been walking on thin ice whenever shes near you.