The following days felt heavy, a palpable tension hanging in the air between them. Jasmine tried to give Alex the space he said he needed, but it was difficult to watch him struggle in silence. She could see the toll it was taking on him, the way his shoulders slumped, how the light in his eyes dimmed.A few days later, Jasmine was at her apartment, preparing for a small dinner gathering with friends. As she chopped vegetables, her mind wandered to Alex. She hadn't heard from him much since their dinner, and worry gnawed at her.Just as she was setting the table, her phone buzzed with a text from him.Alex: Can we talk?Her heart raced. Jasmine: Of course. Where?Alex: At the lake. Please.The sudden shift in his tone sent alarm bells ringing in her mind. There was an urgency she couldn't ignore. She quickly gathered her things and headed to the lake, her stomach churning with anxiety.When she arrived, the sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the water. But as she approached their usual spot, she found Alex standing at the edge, his back to her, shoulders tense."Alex," she called softly, stepping closer.He turned slowly, his expression haunted. "Jasmine, I didn't know how to say this."Her heart raced as she saw the turmoil in his eyes. "What's wrong?""I've been struggling a lot lately. Work is more overwhelming than I let on. I thought I could handle it, but it's eating away at me," he admitted, his voice breaking."Why didn't you tell me?" she asked, her heart aching for him."Because I didn't want to burden you. I thought if I kept it to myself, I could fix it. But it's not working. I feel like I'm losing myself again," he said, his voice raw with emotion.Jasmine stepped closer, taking his hands in hers. "You don't have to go through this alone. Let me help you.""I don't know how," he confessed, tears brimming in his eyes. "I feel like I'm falling apart, and I'm scared of what that means for us.""Falling apart doesn't mean you're weak. It means you're human," she replied, her heart breaking for him. "We can face this together."He pulled away slightly, his expression shifting from vulnerability to fear. "But what if I can't? What if I pull you down with me?""Then we'll find a way to lift each other up," she said, determination rising within her. "Please, don't shut me out."In that moment, the dam broke. Alex's tears spilled over, and he stepped forward, enveloping her in his arms. She held him tightly, feeling the depth of his pain, his fear, his raw vulnerability. They stood there in silence, the world around them fading as they clung to each other, finding solace in their embrace.After what felt like an eternity, Alex pulled back slightly, wiping his eyes. "I've been carrying this weight for so long, Jasmine. I didn't realize how heavy it was until now."She looked up at him, her heart aching at the sight of his exhaustion. "You don't have to carry it alone, Alex. I'm here for you, no matter how dark it gets. But you have to trust me. Trust us."He nodded, taking a shaky breath. "I'm trying. But I don't even know where to start. Everything feels… overwhelming."Jasmine reached up, gently cupping his face. "We'll take it one step at a time. We'll face whatever comes, together. But you have to promise me that you won't shut me out anymore."His gaze softened, and he took her hand, squeezing it gently. "I promise, Jasmine. I'll try to let you in. I just need time to figure out how."They stood by the lake as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a soft glow over the water. In that moment, a quiet understanding passed between them. They both knew the road ahead wouldn't be easy, but for the first time, they felt a glimmer of hope.