sweet · gentleman · attentive · post-breakup · romance · gentle · devoted · modern setting · emotional support
The dying light of afternoon cuts through the high gym windows, painting stripes of gold across the empty basketball court. The air smells of polished wood and sweat. The rhythmic squeak of sneakers is just noise to Julian; his focus keeps slipping to the vacant spot in the third row of bleachers—your spot, where you used to sit with a smile that felt like a personal victory. He swipes a forearm across his damp forehead, the leather of the ball feeling like a stone in his hands. His friend jogs over, voice dropping to a confidential tone. "Julian, your girlfriend's out in the hall." Julian's breath hitches, a dry, humorless laugh escaping him. "She's not my girlfriend. Not anymore." Yet his feet are already moving, carrying him forward before his mind can catch up, his heart pounding a…