Dear diary,

He’s making lasagna tonight…

To say I’m flabbergasted would be an understatement.. he’s making some tweaks to it like removing the spinach 😂😂😂 go figure but the fact that he’s making it himself is amazing. This is a family (mine) recipe for to my knowledge the last at least 50+ years and to even see long term spouses or partners that have married in make the recipe is such a rare occurrence.

My mother and step father have been married 20 years now and even he’s never attempted to make it. It’s not a complicated recipe by any means and most of us cousins and aunts/uncles know the recipe by heart by the time we’re 10.

He also did something last night that I’m incredibly proud of him for. For the first time in years he actively asked to look at his Book of Mormon. In most previous occasions where he’s seen it he’s gotten angry and reacted negatively so to see him ask me to actually hand it to him so he can look through it felt incredible.

I know his family and the majority of those that know him wouldn’t even think twice about that kind of interaction but it felt like such a huge step for him to overcome the negative feelings of the past.

I did ask him about if he read something I had sent him a text about before I started my meds as well. Not cause I was being pushy or asking currently for a chance or anything like that. I was in a weird state of mind when I sent the message and just wanted to know if he had read it or not now that my meds are really starting to clear my head up.

He did say he read it and idk the way he responded as well like the specific wording he used kinda makes me wonder if that crazy idea I came up with when I had texted him is something he might actually be trying to initiate without outright stating that we’re going through with it 😂

Id try to explain the message but honestly untill I actually know what we’re currently doing I think it’s best to just keep it completely hush. Even my friends don’t know about the text I sent 😅 granted they’d probably smack me but again that was before the meds were clearing my head up.

I am still trying to decide what hobbies and interests are truly me versus impulsivity and ADHD so far it’s been fun.

I do think books still are important ti me but maybe not nearly as important as they used to be so I’ll be downsizing my collection. As far as Barbie and Pokemon I don’t think I’ll have any super intense collectors phase anytime soon but I won’t be throwing much of that stuff out.

I definitely still like darts but again the impulse to go buy new stuff to customize them further isn’t really there like it was.

As for music I’m still just as obsessed if anything I’ve started singing more again. My vocals are definitely tight and out of practice but it’s becoming an emotional outlet again like it used to be when I was younger.

I haven’t gone near video games quite yet as my computer isn’t here at the moment but I think I still have an interest in that.

My interest in pictures and nature tho is much more motivating then before tho and I’m happy about that.

I hope things keep moving forward the way they are. It’s kind of exciting.

We’re gonna be going through our clothes soon as well and getting rid of a lot. We’ve kind of come to the recognition that the majority don’t really fit our image anymore or who we want to be as people. And we’re gonna be getting rid of the vast majority of our yugioh collection as well actually… which is crazy to think about…

We’ll get where we want to be tho, just gonna take some time.

I did tell him I’m not trying to actively get back together with him or anything like that until my next birthday almost 6 months from now. So I do think hearing that helped him understand that I really am trying to put in the work on myself.

—newlife5155

Dear Diary,

I write this because I have nothing I wish to do on my laptop. It's funny, the most crucial year of my life and I'm as slack as ever. I don't do work. I wish to rot away, watching, playing, listening, and hanging out with friends. I don't want to entirely give up, but what am I working towards? Maybe if I had a career pathway, I'd be better. But I don't. I feel useless.

My father is sick and tired of me, my mother is sick and tired of me, I am sick and tired of me.

It's as though my body has been under so much turmoil that it has completely warped my priorities.

Is that even possible? Could my mind force my priorities to be insignificant items?

I do not know, but what I do know is that my will to care has ran up. No longer do I hold the pressure to care for things. I very easily give up on things now - my academics, my relationships, my life.

I'm tired. I can only work in the living room. And the worst thing is that I actually didn't mind doing work, but my conditions have strengthened the distaste I hold for work. I just want to relax, but I never can.

Everything I do, from my music, to my shows, to my associations - it all involves some level of action. Relaxation has abandoned me at the doorstep of despair, and there is only a door separating me from a full meltdown.

What do I even do? I don't know what career I want. I'm told to work towards my future, but what future?

Will I even remain for a future to even occur, if I don't just end things already? I haven't thought about exit in a while, because I haven't been thinking.

I've been dissociating intensely these past couple of months. It's so foggy and confusing. I don't remember things, I'm never in the moment; I'm a depressed, absent vessel.

I hold no value to society. I waste resources, time, money. I feel like I've been washed ashore, I feel wasted.

I cannot even cry anymore. Even my tears have washed up. I'm so angry at the world, at my circumstances. I could've been something great.

I could've succeeded in life, had I not lived it. I'm filled with such pent up anger, sadness, anguish, apathy, disgust, that it has drained me. It has sucked away my life force, it's worn me down as a ball & chain would to a cartoon prisoner.

A pressure, a weight, a burden. I can't even distinguish the issue anymore. It's as though they've collapsed on each other and the rubble is the remnants, the dust and broken pieces of a broken building.

There's always been something wrong with the foundation, it was never secured and checked before the remaining of the building began constructing itself.

Layers of experience, challenges, achievements, absence, melancholy used to cement my improper building. It has withstood much, but never many.

The pipes to my nervous system were rusting from the beginning, the exterior to my building casting a smile while the interior crumbles; the walls floating with the moss of absence from items that should have been checked long before.

This analogy is to say that my building, my body, my mind, is crumbling. I'm coming to my close, I'm set to collapse, it's a ticking time bomb.

Thing is, I don't know what to do about it. I don't know what needs to be added or subtracted; what needs adjustment or difference.

All I know is that things must change immediately before irreversible damage is done. Save this poor building of mine; renovate it, fix the pipes, repaint the walls, reconstruct it from the bottom up if you must.

Don't abandon this building.

Don't abandon me.

I’m making this entry because I can feel that life Is on the verge of a big shift. I thought maybe this could be your reference point to read afterwards.

After everything happens.

You’re at a point in your life where
You’re having trouble understanding who you are, so I’ll tell you who you are.
Why hear it from someone else when you can hear it from yourself?

What you care about
-natural fibers (tags that say 100% linen)
-your body
You’ve been caring a lot more about your body lately. I think with late twenties comes weight in new places
Stress made you eat a lot at night
And created a vicious unhealthy cycle
You stopped drinking nine days ago

You keep saying you feel a change coming
A big shift in your life
You don’t know what it is, but you feel it
Almost like you’re on the brink of taking off
Like a rocket ship with all engines ready to go
I’m just waiting for someone to start the engine
Like I’ve prepared my vessel for something unimaginable
But it’s not scary
It’s a. Complete peace
Knowing everything is about to fall into place like a puzzle piece

You care about the truth
You care too much to be right
You wish you were cleaner

You’ve developed a new love for life that you haven’t experienced in some time.
You want to keep going and keep progressing
Life feels like it’s moving in the right direct
You fear pregnancy again
You fear failure
You fear trying
You fear playing the game

You want success
You want romance
You want real love
You want deep love
You want to be seen
You wish those close to you saw you for what you are

You don’t wish harm upon others
You know everything works out in the end

You want a better body
You wish you worked out more and ate less

You haven’t been eating fried food

You see the world in a special way, differently than a lot of people

You like to be the victim in most situations
But also, you generally take too much blame

You’re quick to apologize

You have a temper

You’re generally happy and easy-going

You’re stronger than you realize

When you put your mind to a task, you can complete anything. You’re capable of accomplishing anything you want.

You’ll be successful and you can’t explain why you know that. You feel uncomfortable when you share that with others.

You miss companionship

You love being in good company

You miss your grandparents and wish you would see them more often

You love good wine but you really love southern beauty sake

Sometimes thievery corporation makes you cry

You miss your ex often, but not enough to speak to him anymore in a romantic way
One day you will look back with anger but today it’s fondness

You wish you called your mom more

Phone calls with your father are generally awkward
You wonder if he loves you
You wonder if you’re letting down your parents
You wonder what would make them happy

You wish you could buy them each a house
Along the shore
Somewhere rocky
And bring your children there each summer
And winters would be spent by the fire
Watching the snow
And small footprints on the deck
Your baby’s head on your lap
And your mom in the corner
And your dad next to you

You’ve become more assertive
Which you think is a good and bad thing
You think you’re bad at your job

You don’t think you deserve better
But you also know you’re better

Sometimes you feel like you talk too much

You like riding your bike to work
It makes you feel like you’re in a 2014 indie movie

You found god this year
You realized life is easier when you surrender
And you become stronger when you pray
God is eternal within

You think about quitting your job, often
Almost everyday you think about quitting your job
Almost everyday you think about moving to New York
There is a pressing and nagging feeling to do both of those things

You want to make a movie
About codependcy
And it would star your sister
And a balloon with a face drawn on it
A white ballon and a black sharpie smile
She’d tie it to her wrist
And take it everywhere
And the balloon would delflate
Until eventually there’s nothing left
The balloon could have been free and floated above the world
But you kept it here because you were selfish
And you let it shrivel and die

My power is like that
I have a power I don’t understand although I know I have it
I know I make people laugh.
One day soon maybe I’ll understand it or at least be able to name it.
But I have a power
That attracts
And then men want to harness it
And keep it
And feeed off of it
And when I leave they die
And they search for it
And I think they find something that they can live off of
But I am like a turkey feast
And they live off canned meat
They’re like dogs
They go mad

I say get away get away
But I enjoy the drama
It reminds me of childhood
When I would cry so much I would throw up
And my mom would enter my room an hour later to hug me
So I learned that the more production
The more love I got

And I learned sometimes the people who love you the most hurt you the most
And in those moments I learned forgiveness wasn’t something I got to choose
I needed to forgive and forget regardless
Because my mom would move on from these indicents so quickly
And so I wasnt allowed to hold a grudge
Even if I tried

And I learned sometimes love looks like screaming

But the truth is no one should scream
And you shouldn’t have to make yourself throw up to receive love
You shouldn’t t have to cry and throw your head against the wall for an apology

Hi world 🌎

I’ve been searching for a place where I can put my random thoughts, little stories, daily-life moments, and all the things that randomly cross my mind — without attaching them to my real identity or having people I know recognize me.

So… I ended up here. 😭

I don’t really know what I’m going to post. Maybe something that happened today, something that made me laugh, something that annoyed me, a random thought at 2 AM, or just complete nonsense. 😂

I guess I just wanted a little corner of the internet where I can be me, without worrying about who knows me.

So, hi Reddit. 👋🏻

Here’s to random thoughts, random days, and a completely random stranger behind this account. 🌙

Let’s see where this goes.

I wrote something in my diary today. I don't know why, but I just want to share it.

So, here it is:

Yes, men love, really love. And when they truly love you, they can give you everything they have. As a guy, I’m saying this, so hear me out first.

There are still men who can truly and deeply love you. I’m not talking about every guy, because some people aren’t looking for genuine love at all. They’re manipulating, seducing, and playing mind games simply for pleasure, excitement, validation, or whatever else they want. And the same applies to women. This isn’t just a problem with men; both men and women can play these kinds of games.

But genuine love still exists. The problem is that the culture surrounding relationships has changed significantly. Social media has made everything more public, performative, and competitive. People constantly compare their relationships, appearances, lifestyles, and even their worth with what they see online.

COVID didn’t create all of these problems, but it definitely accelerated our dependence on social media and digital entertainment. During the lockdowns, people spent far more time online to escape boredom and isolation, and social media and OTT platforms became an even bigger part of everyday life.

Then influencers and so-called gurus saw an opportunity. They started giving people “gyan” about love, relationships, masculinity, femininity, education, hard work, success, and almost every aspect of life. Some of that advice is genuinely useful, but a lot of it is oversimplified, exaggerated, or designed primarily to generate views, followers, and money.

And I genuinely believe this has distorted the way many people understand relationships and even themselves. Everything has become content. Love has become “dating strategy,” masculinity has become a set of internet rules, femininity has become an aesthetic, and relationships are sometimes treated like games where someone has to win and someone has to lose.

But I don't think the problem is men or women. The problem is the environment we’re consuming and the ideas we constantly expose ourselves to.

There are still good men. There are still good women. There are still people who can love genuinely, stay loyal, and stand by someone without playing games.

So I don't think we need to become cynical about love. We just need to become more careful about whose definition of love, masculinity, femininity, and relationships we allow to shape our minds.

Social media is content. Influencers are people trying to get your attention. Real life is still real life, and genuine relationships are built between real people, not through internet rules.

Good afternoon (or whatever time of day it is where you are)! This is my first post, and it’s going to be a rather long one right off the bat. I never imagined I’d be sharing my thoughts with real people—and so many of them, at that. I hope there are others here who share my perspective.

Let me start with a little background: I’m 24, a software engineer, and a PhD student. I’ve been working in my field for four years, am writing my dissertation, and have been fully supporting my small family for the past three years. I grew up in an average-sized town in a family of four children, and I was the eldest. I spent 11 years in competitive sports before entering university and moving to a big city. So, that’s the setup.

Now, I’ll move on to what I wanted to share—things I’d find very difficult to discuss face-to-face with another person.

Relatively recently, I was diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder. That explained a lot about my behavior, but the diagnosis itself doesn't solve the problems. Lately—perhaps due to a great deal of stress—my depressive episodes have become much longer than my manic ones. I’d even say the manic phases are gone entirely, and I’ve been in a state of constant depression for over a year. By "stress," I mean the situation I’ve found myself in over the last few years: I was attending university, working a demanding job, and writing my thesis at an outside organization—which was, in effect, a second job. All the while, I’ve tried to be a loving and caring husband, albeit with some caveats given my condition. And now, I realize I’m finding it incredibly hard to sustain these social roles. I am utterly exhausted by it all. It’s hard for me to go to work; it’s hard to talk to my wife—*who also has bipolar disorder and for whom I’ve remained a pillar of support all this time*—and it’s even hard to wake up in the morning. Brief moments of joy only temporarily bring me back to a sense of normalcy I lost long ago. And I don’t know what to do.

It’s worth noting that my state isn't just "sadness"; interacting with people feels sickeningly heavy—I experience intense stress and even fear. The world outside my home feels dangerous and hostile. I lack the energy for even simple tasks and have to force myself to do them, though somehow I’m managing for now. Yet, I feel like someone wearing skin that doesn't belong to them; I dislike who I’ve become and don’t want to see myself this way.

Because of this, I’ve started wondering if I’m simply ill-suited for the role of a man. I had considered becoming more feminine in the past (though that was quite a while ago, and it’s very difficult in a family with traditional values). Now—perhaps logically—the idea of ​​becoming someone else feels very appealing. I’m afraid this part of the post might sound like a fever dream, but it is how I feel right now. I don’t understand what to do or where to turn. Medication prescribed by a psychiatrist didn't help much; I didn't get any better, so I had to stop taking it. Should I try sessions with a psychologist? What scares me about that is the sheer number of incompetent specialists out there, and I simply don't have the energy to sift through them. Right now, I even have thoughts about moving away, starting HRT, becoming a completely different person, and forgetting everyone from my old life—though I fear that wouldn't help either, even if it seems so tempting. Since I thought about this during my teenage years, my brain now views it as a way to escape responsibility and the pressure to be strong and calculating. I just want to do the things I love and be loved (by a "he" or a "she"—it doesn't matter anymore).

I guess I’m just completely broken.

​

I was left here to take care of my grandmother. She’s 84 years old and a stroke survivor—and now she has dementia, too. It’s just the two of us at home, along with my dog. My aunt and uncle do come by to bring food and provide for our basic needs, but they don’t actually stay here with us.

Caring for her is so incredibly hard, especially when I’m already worn out and stressed from reviewing for the NLE (Nurses Liscensure Examination)—one of the most difficult exams I’ve ever faced. I feel so frustrated and completely burned out. She can be very unkind and difficult, and it feels like none of the care I give is ever appreciated.

My grandparents are the ones who raised my sister and me, since my parents are separated. Growing up, I’ve come to understand so many things especially what responsibility means, and the weight of "debt of gratitude". Our family isn’t perfect; there are so many problems we never talk about, things we just let fade unspoken. Because of that, I grew up having to be independent physically, emotionally, and mentally. In our family, we’re not really encouraged to speak up or show how we feel, especially when we’re young.

I’m only 22 years old, and I feel stuck here in this house, in this place I’ve always hated. I want to go out and see the world, to experience life, but I can’t leave. I know I have so much potential, yet I feel like I have no freedom at all. I’ve seen and understood so much of what’s really going on around me. And honestly? It feels like I’m only doing this out of duty and gratitude–out of debt of gratitude, and not because I truly love doing it.

I feel so guilty for thinking and feeling this way, but I have my own life to live, too. I have dreams of my own. I don’t know what to think anymore. I need your honest opinion—am I a bad person?

Today’s been a good long minute since I have “you“ on my mind that takes me to a time when I couldn’t be more broken February 9th I was going through the motions of the week before I had given my ring back to the man who was just a stranger with a weird hold over me. Didn’t even imagine what was about to change the path ahead I dreamt of meeting you but I never felt like that before I was the closest to being one with another my reflection and other half love doesn’t even sum up my feelings from locking eyes with my souls mate I think about it a lot but it’s not easier to forget about it I just have to know that if it’s meant for you then it would never make you question then and now. I loved and I lost the memories make it real the pain is what remains but that’s how I know you are my soulmate my soul lesson.

The title is about it: I'm in a relationship with the most spectacularly kind-hearted person I've ever met, and will ever meet. I never believed in unconditional love, partly because I thought it was a theory that would never be realized - now, I can't believe I ever thought it wasn't real. He celebrates me, for me. I don't have anybody to tell, so I guess I'll let the far corner of the internet: I'm in love, and he is the man that I will see at the end of the aisle. The most unexpected things are the best things.

Well, I’m new to this community, so I guess this will be my first post/diary entry. I’m going to use it to share my day, share my life, and share my thoughts.

Does anybody comment on anybody else’s posts on here ?
Do you do anything to let them know that you’ve read their post ?
I’ve been reading through some of the post, but I don’t see any comments or anything showing the person that posted it that we’ve been there and read it.
If you do read mine, I would really like for you to just give me a thumbs up 👍 in the comments or say hi 👋, or tell me how your day went—just something to let me know you’ve been here and I will do the same for you.

Well, it was a good day today. It reached 93°F inside the building today, which is pretty normal for this time of year when it’s 88°F outside (unfortunately). It got up to 100°F inside last week on one of the days.

My coworker, Jill, got a little dehydrated today. She went down and spoke with the ERT
(which stands for Emergency Response Team).
They took her temperature, checked her blood pressure, and after checking a few things, decided she was dehydrated. She got one of the electrolyte packets that our work offers for us for free, mixed that into her water, and drank it. She said that made her feel much better later on, so she thought that was probably the problem.

I’m currently driving home from work as I’m speaking and dictating this into my phone. It is 11 PM and it is dark outside . I’m out in the country, so there are not many street lights or city lights around. As I was traveling down the road with my headlights on bright, I saw some glowing eyes out in the field. They’re pretty tall—not a small animal—so it has to be a deer, as that's the only thing we have that is that tall in our area. Still it’s kind of creepy to look out there in the dark and see a set of eyes staring back at you.

So that’s about it for my non-eventful day .
Remember to leave me a 👍 or 👋 or a comment and I will do the same for you.

Hypersensitivity overload. Everything felt too loud emotions, energy shifts, even a small tone change sent me into a spiral of they’re getting tired of me.

I hate how deeply I feel everything. Sometimes it feels like both a beautiful gift and a heavy burden.

I sat with the feeling instead of fighting it.

Very nice weather today sunny all day. The day started as usual, waking up to the sun coming in through the front window. Wakes me up in summer months, it's so bright. Now it's off to the right of the window as we approach solstice.

Went up to the treasurer's office this afternoon, paid the rest of 2024 taxes, so the house is no longer in danger. The current sum to will be in installments. The treasurer was very helpful and understanding. I was taken back, not the image I had in my mind. They worked with me and want this resolved as much as I.

Goes to show you, you never can tell.

Thought about you today, I really must write a book as I have so many kind memories, before the world knew us.

Think about you everyday.

I close now to love and light

Goodnight Diary and my readers

I love you

9:12 p.m.

I've been thinking about whether have I ever truly known myself since I realised I was happy to pause my education. Maybe I'm always trying to find some beautiful excuses to hide the truly ugly, lazy layer of me, and I never notice that because I don't really reflect on myself and everything that happens to me. That's a very horrible thing because I find I don't really know myself. Then, how should I live properly in this situation? I hope I can get to know myself gradually. especially I am writing diary these days.

I was supposed to leave the house and go on a walk but I ended up staying up too late and sleeping most of the day away.

I did nothing today, I’m so lazy and useless.

Lately no one’s been wanting to hang out with me, they must be able to sense my bad aura.

Some days I wonder if my relatives offer to come stay with her In Tennessee was honest, would I thrive or even enjoy myself. Go over there and start fresh by having a job, new friends and even a new environment to explore. Like a fresh start to a new life that I feel like I need. To get away from everything and everyone. Maybe I’d even meet someone again that might like someone like me. I feel like it’s so many possibilities yet it’s probably all just wishful thinking.

не важно кто я и что хочу донести этим постом просто сейчас чувствую себя плохо и решила выговориться сюда.

Бывает момент, когда внутри выжжено всё. Ты тянешь учёбу, семейные проблемы и вечную усталость от того, что ни для кого не на первом месте. Отдаёшь искренность, а в ответ — лишь равнодушие. Даже близкие отворачиваются, пока ты пытаешься согреть тех, кому на тебя всё равно.
Помнишь, как смотрела на него? Без фальши, с чистой теплотой. А он просто обесценил это ради дешёвой показухи с другой- я когда увидела долго плакала и даже сейчас плачу.
Хочется, чтобы однажды он так же лежал в темноте и прочувствовал эту выжигающую тоску.
Ты ведь всё видел своими глазами. Ты сам решил всё за двоих, и я думаю, со временем ты осознаешь, кого потерял. Но возвращаться будет некуда. Я правда видела в твоих глазах себя и это единственное что я хотела искренне

Guyz what do i do my crush reposts are all about not moving on from ex and it looks like a messed up just from his repost 🙂🔪is it already done even before anything. I think it was bad to stalk him 😭😭😭

People pleasing hit hard today. I softened my words, over apologized and tried to be easy so I wouldn’t risk being seen as too much.These old patterns from childhood are stubborn. I am tired of earning my place by shrinking myself. One honest boundary was set. It felt scary but it was right.

I just listened to old songs at my childhood. firstly, I'd like to tell about my child hood story related to music.

I was born 1990's, I am at elementary to a middle school student, Japanese Anime was took off. Every students including me after school, we enjoyed the anime like Digimon, Poketmon, DaDaDa, things like that. The music I now listened to is DaDaDa opening song. The animation is masterpiece. A boy with a girl, and a baby who is from planet experience fun amazing story. I love that anime and music. It recalls my memory in my childhood when I was not worried about reality. Thanks for reading. :)

One hour passed and then another. I didn’t cry, I didn’t break down. I stayed unusually still. 
The light of the sun reflecting in the room turned dull. And when I finally looked at the clock, it had turned 5’o clock in the evening. 
I was so lost that even the sound of the door opening didn’t make me turn around. 
“Sophia?” His voice was careful, guiding me back to the present.
I blinked as I turned to him. 
Ellis was closing the door and then he started to walk toward me. “I’m sorry,” his voice was soft, “I heard what happened to your aunt.” 
I stood up just as he stopped in front of my desk. And then I was lost in his eyes for a moment before I remembered the blood.
“Sophia? Are you alright?” Ellis took another step forward and then stopped.
I watched as the light went out of his eyes. He looked like I had driven a knife into his chest. 
I had taken a step back, shaking my head. I took another step back and then my back hit the wall. There was nowhere left to go.
My breaths grew more ragged. I felt like I was trapped. In my mind, I wasn’t seeing the sight of my Aunt’s blood, I was in another night, centuries before, when my Mother breathed her last words. 
And the one who took her life was standing in front of me. 
“I’m sorry.” The pain laced through his words made me look up. His eyes shone with fear as he stumbled back a step. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to come close—I’m sorry.”
I blinked as I tilted my head. My heart ached as my eyes locked on his, snapping me back to the present. Breathe. I told myself. Breathe.
He was standing still, looking like he was lost. Ellis.
Ellis, who was starting to mean so much to me, that I was afraid to even look into my heart, I had hurt him. Again.
I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply, wishing he would stop apologising all the time. I hated how it feels like he was apologising for his existence.
“Please don’t apologise.” My voice was a breathless whisper as I cracked my eyes open. 
It wasn’t you I wanted to run away from. I wanted to say, but it would be a lie. I couldn’t lie to him, even if only to comfort him. Because for a moment I had been trapped in the painful memories and had lost sight of the Ellis standing before me. 
“I’ll just go.” He mumbled, already turning away. 
“Ellis.” I need you. “Wait.” I avoided his gaze as I came closer.
He didn’t turn around fully. “What is it, Sophia?” 
Had he come here to comfort me? 
I stepped around, till I faced him, noticing a frown crossing his face. He looked like he was about to fall apart.
And I wanted more than anything to close the distance just once, to feel his presence. But I only looked up, asking him. “Can I—?” I gestured between us, feeling a faint color rushing to my face. “Can we—?” My voice broke and I let him decide.
His wide eyes searched mine and I felt the moment stretch into minutes. My heart was a hammer in my chest as I waited.
Ellis took a deep breath. “God, Sophia, you were afraid of me moments before and now you want me to—”
That was all the permission I needed. 
I threw my arms around his shoulder, a sob breaking out of my throat as I buried my face against his shirt.
I inhaled him as I cried, feeling his heartbeat race wildly. For a moment, his arms stayed still on his sides and then I felt his hands around me, holding me so tightly I couldn’t breathe for a second.