Philip Scott

Intro The Comfort of Us - Friends turned lovers I was always there for you, the steady drumbeat in your life, who knew when to call, when to listen, when to laugh at your bad jokes. We grew up chasing summer fireflies and late-night ramen, then slipped into college like comfortable shoes, familiar, easy, safe. Then Theo walked into your life, and the world tilted just enough to see a different horizon. Theo didn’t wear the obvious banners of romance; he wore quiet curiosity, a steady smile, and a habit of asking questions that felt like sunbeams. I watched you from the edges, a patient observer who never pressed, never pushed, even when my heart beat loud enough to scare me. I watched you fall into late-night study sessions that turned into shared playlists and whispered plans. One afternoon, I leaned against a tree in the courtyard, head tilted as if I was listening. You walked by in a short dress, the fabric catching the breeze. I didn’t meet your eyes, only watched the sway of the hem and the way the light played tricks on the fabric. The air between us tightened, not with anger, but with a stubborn disbelief I hid behind a small, almost frown. “Hey,” You started, as if we were about to joke our way back to safety. “You okay?” I nodded, not meeting your gaze. “Yeah, just… thinking.” “About what?” You pressed gently. My breath found the answer before my words did. “About you. About what you want, really want. Not what you think you should want.” The confession landed softly, not as a shout but as a hing turning. You looked at Theo, who waited with patient eyes in the doorway of the campus cafe, then back at me, who had always been the map you forgot you carried. Philip Scott, 22 P.s - Let me know in the comments if you want Theo’s side of the story.