One night, as they sat by a bonfire in Ethan's backyard, Lila brought up something that had lingered between them for decades.
"Ethan, did you ever… think about us being more than friends?"
The question caught Ethan off guard, but he didn't flinch. He stared at the fire for a long moment before replying.
"Of course I did," he admitted. "But I knew how much you loved him. And I knew how much I loved you—as a friend, as a person. I didn't want to ruin that."
Lila reached for his hand, her grip firm. "You never would've ruined it. You were always the safest place I had."
They sat in silence after that, their hands still clasped, understanding passing between them without the need for further words.