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THE SUN IS SETTING WITH SOFT streaks of purple and pink painting the sky like something out of a dream. There’s a warm breeze threading through the air, lifting the strands of my hair that aren’t tied up. I lean on the bridge’s railing, staring out at the quiet water below as it reflects the colours above.
This place, it’s always been ours. Mine and his.
Aaron stands beside me, one arm over my shoulder like always, his body close enough that I can feel the heat radiating from him.
“I finished my exams today,” he says suddenly, voice soft.
I glance up at him. “Really?” He nods. A slow smile tugs at my lips. “You’re gonna get the best grades. I can already see it. A full row of A’s. Total nerd status confirmed.”
He nudges me gently with his shoulder, but his eyes are bright. “Oi. I’ll be bragging when you ask for my help next year.”
“Please,” I roll my eyes. “You’ll be bragging now anyways. Probably frame your results and put them above your bed.”
He laughs, head tilting back slightly. The sound is easy and full. “Right next to my shrine of you, obviously.”
I snort. “Weirdo.”
He grins, reaching out to tuck one of my curls behind my ear, fingers lingering on my cheek just a second longer than necessary. My stomach flips.
For a moment, there’s only silence, just the breeze and the sound of distant traffic, and the way his eyes are looking at me like I’m the only thing that exists.
It’s always been like that.
I take a breath, glancing out at the sky. “Remember when you took me here and we saw that shooting star?”
“I do,” he replies, brow furrowing like he’s trying to guess where I’m going with this.
“You told me to make a wish.”
“Right…” he says slowly. “Did it come true?”
I nod, heart thudding. “Yeah. It did.”
He turns to face me fully. “What was it?”
“I wished for my life to finally get better,” I say, voice barely above a whisper. “And it did. Because of you.”
Aaron’s face softens, the kind of softness I don’t think he lets many people see. “It wasn’t because of me,” he mutters, his arm sliding around my back and pulling me closer to him. “You did that.”
“No.” I shake my head, resting my hand on his chest, right where his heartbeat is steady and real. “I couldn’t have done it without you. Even my dad said you’re good for me, you know?”
His eyes widen a little. “He did?”
I nod again, lips parting to say more—but I don’t. I think about that conversation, the one I haven’t told Aaron about. How Dad sat down beside me the other night, looking uncomfortable and a bit lost for words.
“I just want you to be okay, mija,” he’d said. “If being with him makes you happy… then that’s enough for me.”
And then his eyes had gone glassy. Teary. It was the first time I’d ever seen him close to crying. I didn’t know what to say. He didn’t know either. But I knew he meant it.
Back on the bridge, I rest my head against Aaron’s shoulder, grounding myself in him. “You’re even better for me,” he whispers, pressing a kiss to my cheek. “You’ve always been.”
I pull back just enough to squint up at him. “You’re a goner, Aaron.”
“I am for you, there’s no fucking doubt.”
I roll my eyes, but I’m smiling. He reaches for my hand, threading his fingers through mine. Our palms fit together like puzzle pieces.
“You stopped,” he says suddenly.
“Stopped what?”
“Looking away,” he murmurs, eyes on mine. “You used to always do that when I looked at you. Like you were scared I’d see too much.”
My lips curve. “Maybe I’m just not as shy anymore.”
“Don’t get me wrong, Blondie,” he chuckles, leaning in. “I love it.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah,” he says, voice low as he dips his head. His lips brush mine—slow and warm and certain. And when he pulls back, I don’t look away.
And before I can even think twice, I reach out, my fingers sliding into his hair as I lean in and kiss him.
His lips part against mine—soft, warm, familiar. His hand lifts to my jaw, holding me there like he doesn’t want to let go. The kiss deepens, slow and patient, and I melt into it, into him. Into the safety he gives me without even trying.
He’s the first thing in a long time that doesn’t feel temporary.
“Fuck,” he mutters against my lips, voice barely audible.
I let out a quiet chuckle, pulling back slightly. My thumb drags along the line of his cheekbone, staring into the prettiest green eyes I’ve ever seen.
“I love you,” I breathe.
His lips twitch upward, something awed in his expression, like the words knocked the wind out of him.
“Say it again,” he whispers. “Please.”
I can’t help the smile growing on my face as I let out another chuckle. “I love you.”
He closes his eyes for a second, like he’s absorbing it. “I’ll never get over that.”
“Don’t worry,” I murmur, still brushing his hair back with my fingers. “You’ll be hearing it every day for the rest of your life.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“Definitely,” I whisper.
He leans in, hand cradling my cheek, and kisses me again, this time softer and slower. Like it’s a promise and everything he can’t say out loud.
And as I kiss him back, something settles inside me. Something clicks.
Almost all my life, I’ve been falling. Falling into pain. Falling into the dark. Into urges I couldn’t control. Into things that tore me apart.
But this, him, falling for Aaron O’Connor… was the only fall I ever did right.
He made me realise I’m lovable. That nothing was ever wrong with me. That I could want more, be more. He made me feel seen. Noticed. Understood He made me want to stay alive just so I could love him longer. Be with him longer.
He helped me love myself.
And now I can finally love him back the way he deserves.
And I’m so, so glad I fell.
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