Jay stood in the middle of the room, his eyes still fixed on the walls filled with pieces of a life he did not recognize. Every frame carried a version of him that felt distant, disconnected, like he was looking at someone else wearing his face. His chest felt tight, not from fear, but from something deeper, something unsettled that refused to form into a clear thought.
"We were together in high school."
Jay turned sharply.
"What?"
Asher stepped closer, not too fast, not too slow, careful not to push him too far too quickly. "We were lovers," he said again, more clearly this time, leaving no room for misunderstanding. "Back then."
Jay stared at him, his expression hardening instantly. "Stop."
But Asher didn't stop.
"We were fifteen," he continued, his gaze steady. "And it wasn't something we hid from each other. We just… didn't think it would matter that much."
