conrad sat on the edge of the porch, staring at the waves breaking against the shore, each crash reverberating through him like a reminder of all the moments he had missed. he could still feel the lingering warmth of last night—the heat of the fire, the weight of words he hadn’t meant to spill, the ache of truth finally breaking free. he hated that it had come out so messy, so reckless, but he had no choice. he had been drunk, yes, but he had also been honest in a way he hadn’t allowed himself to be in years. sitting there, the morning light catching the strands of his hair, he could feel the tension coiling in his chest, the way his heart pounded so hard it almost hurt. he ran a hand over his face, trying to calm the storm inside him, but every time he thought of her, the ache returned, sharper than before. she’s here, and i can’t pretend anymore. i can’t hide how i feel. she has to know, even if it ruins everything.
his gaze shifted to @stillsparkle, sitting there wrapped in a towel, hair damp, the sun catching her profile in a way that made him feel like he was seeing her for the first time. he hated that he had let himself get this far without saying anything. he hated that he had let fear and pride dictate the past, that he had kept everything bottled up until it came out drunk and messy in front of her. and yet, he knew he had no choice but to speak. the words had been building inside him for too long, twisting around his chest, clawing to get out. he cleared his throat, the rasp of it loud in the quiet morning. ❝ belly… i’m sorry, ❞ he said, the words small but heavy with the weight of everything he hadn’t said before. the apology wasn’t just for last night, not entirely. it was for the years he had held back, for every time he had let silence rule, for every moment he had convinced himself it was better not to love her openly. he could see her reaction—subtle, hesitant, eyes flicking up to meet his but it wasn’t enough to calm the storm inside him. he ran a hand through his hair again, muscles tense, mind racing. why is it always like this with her? one word, one look, and i’m completely undone. i’ve loved her forever, and now she’s here, and all i want is to make her understand, even if it’s too late. ❝ i didn’t mean for last night to… i don’t even know what i meant. i was drunk off my ass, and i said things i shouldn’t have, ❞ he added quickly, voice breaking slightly despite his efforts to stay steady. he hated that he sounded weak, that his emotions betrayed him so easily, but he couldn’t stop it. the truth was stronger than his pride, stronger than his fear. ❝ i just… i couldn’t keep it in anymore. i’ve been holding it in for so long, and it all came out wrong. ❞
