so here it is, my heart laid bare.

For so long, I’ve kept my emotions buried deep within. I’ve hidden behind walls built from fear and uncertainty. The words at the tip of my tongue have always seemed inadequate, clumsy, unable to truly capture the depth of what I feel inside.

But with you, I’m hoping it’s different. There’s something about your presence that makes me want to open up, to let you in.

Your gentle smile, the way you look at me with adoring eyes, the way you feel like home— it all makes me believe that maybe, I can...