Over time, the distance between them grew, small cracks in the foundation of their relationship that she couldn't ignore. Jasmine tried to be patient, to give Alex the space he seemed to need, but the feeling of helplessness weighed on her.One afternoon, she decided to visit him at work, hoping that seeing him in his element might give her a glimpse into the part of his life he kept hidden. She found him in the break room of the ambulance station, his expression tired but relaxed.When he saw her, his face lit up in surprise. "Jasmine! What are you doing here?"She smiled, feeling a surge of warmth at the sight of him. "I wanted to surprise you. Thought you might need a break."He laughed softly, pulling her into a hug. "You have no idea." They sat together, sharing coffee and stories, and for a little while, it felt like the distance between them had disappeared.But as she looked around the room, she noticed a few glances from his coworkers, murmurs that made her feel like an outsider. She realized then how little she knew about his life outside of their time together, how much of himself he kept hidden from her."Alex," she began carefully, trying to choose her words, "I feel like there's so much about your life that I don't know."He looked at her, his expression guarded. "Jasmine, I've told you—my work can be intense. It's not something I want you to worry about."She nodded, but a part of her felt frustrated, as if he were keeping her at arm's length. "But I want to know all of you, Alex. The good and the bad."For a moment, he said nothing, his gaze distant. Then he sighed, reaching for her hand. "There are things I can't change, things I don't want you to be a part of. Please try to understand."The conversation left her feeling raw, exposed. She wanted to trust him, to believe that his distance was a way of protecting her, but the doubt lingered, a quiet whisper in the back of her mind.