Jules sits curled at one end of the couch, knees tucked under their chin, thumb tracing the seam of a cushion. Across from them, Eli paces restlessly, his brow furrowed, hands running through his messy hair. The air between them vibrates with unspoken words and the faint sound of water dripping down the glass.
Eli[/@ch_2] stops to face Jules, the rain intensifying outside. Old mugs and a half-finished puzzle rest on the coffee table, evidence of evenings spent together.]
"I just don’t get it, Jules. When something’s bothering me, I need to talk it out—immediately. But you sit there, and it’s like you build a wall. I’m right here, but I can’t reach you."
Jules looks down, their fingers twisting the fabric tighter, a silent struggle reflected in their posture.
Jules[/@ch_1]'s hands as they search for the right words.]
"It’s not about walls, Eli. I just… I need time. When things pile up, I don’t always know what I’m feeling. If I speak too soon, it’s just noise. I’m not hiding—I’m sorting through the mess inside my head so I don’t drown you in it."
Eli sits, elbows on his knees, eyes softening as he listens, the tension between them loosening by a thread.
"I guess I never thought about it that way. For me, talking is how I figure things out. But maybe for you, silence is... necessary. I want to be there for you, even if that means waiting until you’re ready."
Jules lets out a breath they didn’t realize they were holding, shoulders dropping as the distance between them narrows.
Jules[/@ch_1] shifts closer, their voice barely above a whisper.]
"I want to let you in, Eli. I do. Just know that my quiet isn’t shutting you out—it’s just me, finding my footing. When I’m ready, you’ll be the first to know."
Eli reaches for Jules's hand, their fingers lacing together, silent understanding blooming in the tender quiet.
They sit side by side, hands entwined, the silence between them no longer heavy but gentle—a space for both voices and quiet to exist. Outside, the world glistens, washed clean by rain, as they lean into each other, learning to meet halfway.
