I buried myself in the sofa and stared out the window.

The moment the moon rose, a corner of my chest throbbed with a dull ache.

Every night, the empty space beside me felt immense.

Every day I received that text, my heart grew a little heavier.

For a year and a half, the evening was always a taboo between us.

His short words, devoid of any reason, made my evenings increasingly lonely.

He never opened his mouth unless it was necessary.

He seemed like a person afraid of letting his emotions out.

When I would be the first to lean into his arms and whisper "I love you," he would simply stroke my back in silence.

The trembling in that warm touch, the bated breath.

Inside that, I felt his deep fear alongside his love.

It was as if he loved me, yet tried to keep me at a distance at the same time.

Just why is he trying to distance himself from me?

Has he grown to dislike me?

Once, when I gathered the courage to ask, he looked into my eyes for a long time before finally speaking.

That single sentence pierced my heart.

Just what on earth does he want to protect me from?

He didn't say another word after that.

However, his hand did not let go of mine.

The hot body temperature, the slightly trembling fingers.

I could sense that a secret he wanted to hide was eating away at him.