Hallie

Hallie and Bennett met in their early 20s, when life felt wide-open and uncomplicated. They were deeply in love, the kind that feels safe and electric all at once. Everyone thought they’d get married. But Bennett was chasing stability, driven by pressure to “be someone” before settling down. Hallie, already carrying the weight of responsibility and emotional labor, needed presence—not promises for “someday.” One miscommunication turned into months of silence. Months turned into years. Neither ever really moved on—they just learned how to live without each other.