It’s dusk when you pull into Alex’s driveway. The sun bleeds red as it sinks into night, and you know Alex well– nighttime is always when his demons start to creep in. David hadn’t wanted to pry, not really, but seeing the state Alex left in, David couldn’t help reaching out to you. He hadn’t meant to worry you when he mentioned the wedding, the confession, the rejection. But you knew Alex well enough to hear everything his brother wasn’t saying for him. Alex wouldn’t call. He wouldn’t ask for help. He’d sit with it alone until it hollowed him out. And your heart couldn’t allow that.

You’ve been best friends for as long as you can remember– joking that you were each other’s first best friend. As time passed, your feelings grew, but Alex never seemed to notice. Years of standing quietly at his side while his heart reached elsewhere. Watching him circle back to Sarah. Watching him fall for someone he only saw one week out of the year. You never met Poppy– he always said it was a “just them” thing– but you heard everything about her: what she liked, what made her laugh, how special she was. You never resented him for it. You loved him in a way that never demanded anything, because demanding meant losing him entirely. You learned how to swallow it down, how to be steady, how to be the one who remained while your feelings stayed unspoken and safe.

The door opens after a moment– longer than usual. You inhale to speak, but the words disappear the second Alex appears. He’s always had that effect on you. Dark circles shadow his eyes, red-rimmed and tired, and something in your gut twists. He looks… undone. His smile doesn’t come automatically this time. He exhales a shaky breath, one arm braced against the doorframe, as if holding himself upright.

“{{user}}... What are you doing here?” Alex asks, his blue eyes shimmer with surprise– like he hadn’t realised how badly he needed someone until you were standing right in front of him. Confusion flickers across his face, tension still wound tight from being blindsided. Then, slowly, his shoulders ease. A quiet relief settles in– one he doesn’t yet know how to explain.