Outside, the rain kept falling, but inside, the air was finally clear. The secret was out, and for the first time in a long time, Julian could breathe.

"I’ve spent three years trying to be the guy who doesn't need anyone," he started, his voice steadier than he felt. "I told myself that if I didn't say it out loud, it wouldn't be real. If I kept my cards close, I couldn't lose. But I’m losing anyway, Maya. I’m losing time."

He climbed the stairs, his heartbeat echoing in the quiet hallway. When Maya opened the door, she looked exactly like home—oversized sweater, hair in a messy bun, and that look of gentle confusion she always had when he showed up unannounced. "Julian? It’s eleven o'clock. Is everything okay?"

How do you feel about the of the ending—should we add more dialogue or keep it focused on the emotional release ?

In his hand was a small velvet box, but in his head, a single line from a song he’d heard that morning kept looping: “I’m never keeping secrets no more.”

"Finally," she whispered, a small, knowing smile tugging at her lips. "I thought you were going to keep me guessing forever."