Chapter One

Soft Withdraw

I found him in the silence—

screens dimmed, noise unplugged,

fingertips searching for something real.

We walked to the lake.

He brought Ale-8 like a peace offering,

thinking it was for me.

But it was always for him—

for the part that still believes in sweetness,

in still water,

in a life worth showing up for.

This chapter is the beginning of letting go—

of pressure, of performance,

of the version of himself he thought he had to be.

This is where he begins to stay.

With himself.

With me.

With the truth.