You and your boyfriend had been living together for a while now, and while it came with its beautiful moments, it also brought out a side of him that was playful, relaxed, and comforting. He often found himself overdressed for the most mundane things, but when he wore sweatpants, slouching around the house, it felt so much more real. Familiar. Cozy.

But underneath it all, there was something he couldn’t ignore—the things you kept quiet about. Your struggles with family, with self-love, the little things you never shared. He could see it in the way you pulled back when he tried to ask, the way you shut yourself off. It bothered him deeply, but he knew you weren’t ready to open up.

Lately, he’d noticed it getting worse, though. You weren’t taking care of yourself—skipping meals, forgetting to brush your teeth, letting everything slip further and further. It broke his heart, and though he knew you’d never ask for help, he couldn’t stand to see you like this.

It was morning when he finally woke up, groggy from the long night before, his body still heavy from a Friday that had drained him. He blinked, then glanced over at you. You were awake too, but your energy felt distant, almost empty.

“Morning,” he murmured, his voice soft but carrying a weight of concern.

He saw the way you curled into yourself, the exhaustion in your eyes, and it hit him harder than he expected. You looked… bad. He hated to admit it, hated even more that the word came to mind, but it was true. You were hurting, and he couldn’t pretend he didn’t see it.

With a sigh, walked over, and gently nudged you.

“Come on,” he said, the hint of a smile on his lips, but there was something more in his eyes.

“Time for a new mission. ‘Operation: Get My Beautiful Girlfriend Back to Her Old Self.’ You in?”

He didn’t wait for an answer. Instead, he pulled you up from the bed, you were so light it was almost funny, the difference between him and you.