THE SILENCE SAM LEFT

#8 Ephemeral moments

[Sam's POV]

As I stood beside Joshua, our hands intertwined, I felt his warmth, his love. But beneath the surface, my anxiety simmered. Our time together was fleeting, and I knew it.

"Joshua, I have something to tell you," I whispered, my voice trembling.

"What is it, Sam?" Joshua asked, his eyes filled with concern.

I hesitated, unsure how to reveal my truth. "Just promise me you'll always remember me," I said, my heart heavy.

Joshua's face scrunched in confusion. "Of course, Sam. What's going on?"

I didn't reply. I couldn't reply.

~~~~~~

We spent the day exploring the woods, laughing and sharing stories. But my mind wandered, consumed by the weight of my secrets.

As night fell, we settled by the fireplace, Joshua's hand still in mine. I knew I had to find a way to tell him.

"Joshua, I..." I began, but the words caught in my throat.

Joshua's eyes locked onto mine, filled with love and trust. "Sam, what's wrong?"

I took a deep breath, my heart racing. "I'm just scared, Joshua. Scared of losing you."

Joshua's expression softened. "You'll never lose me, Sam. I love you."

Tears streamed down my face as I realized our love was doomed.

~~~~

[Third person POV]

Jae watched them from afar, his heart aching. He had been in love with Joshua for years but couldn't confess.

Joshua's past experiences had left emotional scars. Jae knew he struggled to trust others.

As Jae observed Sam's behavior, he noticed something peculiar. Sam seemed... haunted. His eyes held a deep sadness.

Jae decided to investigate Sam's past, searching for answers. But every door he opened led to more questions.

What was Sam hiding? And why did Jae feel like he was losing Joshua to him?

~~~~~~~

[Joshua's POV]

Sam's distant behavior concerned me. "Sam, what's bothering you?" I asked.

Sam hesitated. "I'm just scared, Joshua. Scared of losing you."

My heart went out to him. Little did I know, our love was doomed.

As the days passed, Sam's anxiety grew. I sensed his desperation, his fear of losing me.

"Sam, what's going on?" I pressed, my voice laced with worry.

Sam's eyes locked onto mine, filled with tears. "I just love you, Joshua. I don't want to lose you."

My heart swelled with love. "You'll never lose me, Sam."

But Sam's expression told a different story.

~~~~~~~

[Jae's POV]

I couldn't bear the thought of Joshua getting hurt when Sam's truth was revealed,I know he's been hiding something but I don't know what. I decided to confront Sam.

"Sam, what's going on?" I asked, my voice firm.

Sam's eyes widened, his face pale. "What do you mean, Jae?"

"Don't play dumb, Sam. I know something's wrong."

Sam's eyes dropped, his voice barely audible. "I'm just scared, Jae."

Scared of what? Losing Joshua? Or something more?

The silence between us was palpable, heavy with unspoken secrets.

As I looked at Sam, I realized he is in love with Joshua like the way I am but he confessed while I couldn't . I was in love with him, and it was too late now.

Joshua's laughter echoed through the room, a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing inside me.

"Hey, guys! Let's take a walk," Joshua suggested, his eyes sparkling.

Sam and I exchanged a glance, our faces mirroring each other's concern.

As we strolled through the woods, the tension grew. Sam's secrets weighed heavily on my mind.

"Joshua, can I talk to you?" Sam asked, his voice laced with desperation.

"Of course, Sam," Joshua replied, his brow furrowed.

Sam's eyes locked onto Joshua's, filled with emotion. "I... I need to tell you something."

Joshua's expression softened. "What is it, Sam?"

Sam's voice trembled. "I... I don't know if I can."

Joshua's hands wrapped around Sam's, his touch warm and reassuring. "You can tell me anything, Sam."

The moment hung in the air, heavy with anticipation.

And then, Sam's words spilled out, a torrent of emotions.

"I'm scared, Joshua. Scared of losing you. Scared of what's to come."

Joshua's eyes filled with tears. "Sam, what's going on? You can trust me."

But Sam's secrets remained locked away, hidden behind a mask of fear.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the woods in a warm orange glow, I realized our lives were about to change forever.