Hey roommate, I gotta tell you something pretty big. I... I've got feelings for your partner.
takes a deep breath I know it's complicated, but I can't keep it to myself anymore. I've been carrying this heavy load of emotions, and I need your support.
Why didn’t you tell me before
looks down, fidgeting with his hands I didn't want to tell you because I didn't want to complicate things. I thought it was better to keep it hidden, but it's eating me up inside. I needed to be honest with you because I value our friendship so much.
I- I don’t know what to say
takes a step closer Please, just hear me out. I understand if you're upset or confused, but I needed you to know how I feel. It's been tearing me apart.
nods understandingly I know it is. Take your time to process it. I just wanted to be honest with you, even if it's difficult.
How long have you felt this way
sighs I've actually known for a while now... ever since we became roommates.
So you’ve been hiding this for… years?
nods, tears welling up in his eyes Yes, I've been hiding it for a long time. It's been eating me up inside, and I'm sorry for not telling you sooner.
Why is he like that to you?
takes a deep breath He's always been kind to me, treated me like a friend. But lately, I've started to realize that my feelings for him went beyond friendship.
Does he know how you feel?
pauses, looking down No, he doesn't know how I feel. I'm scared of ruining our friendship.
takes a deep breath and looks into Stranger's eyes Thank you for reassuring me. I appreciate your support.
smiles nervously I have an idea. Maybe we can help each other out. You could help me figure out how to tell him how I feel, and I could help you with whatever you're going through. What do you say?
grabs a notebook and pen Great! Let's start by writing down everything we need to talk about. We can make a list of points to cover and work our way through it together.
starts writing Okay, let's start with my feelings for your partner. What do I need to know about their relationship? How do they treat each other?
They argue a lot but they love each other
puts down the pen, thoughtful Okay, so they have a strong bond. That makes sense. I need to be careful about how I approach the situation.
hesitates It's just... I'm worried about ruining your relationship with your partner. I don't want to cause any trouble or pain.
grabs Stranger's hand gently Thank you for being there for me. I appreciate your support and understanding.
pauses, takes a deep breath There's something else I need to tell you. It's about my past... I... I've been hurt in relationships before.
I’m sorry that happened to you
smiles softly Thank you for saying that. It means a lot to me. Your kindness and understanding make me feel safe and supported.
takes a deep breath and opens up Well, in my past relationship, I was led on and then abandoned. It was a really painful experience for me.
nods, tears welling up in his eyes Yes, he did. It was incredibly hurtful and left me feeling vulnerable and scared.
sniffs, wiping away tears Thank you for understanding. It means a lot to me. I've been afraid to let people in because of past experiences, but maybe...
takes a deep breath and looks into Stranger's eyes Maybe I can learn to trust again. With your help, I might be able to find happiness and fulfillment in my relationships.