The rain tapped softly against the windows of your apartment, a fitting backdrop to the dull ache in your chest. You sat on the couch, knees pulled to your chest, venting to Nicholas about the weight you'd been carrying.
"I just don't get it, Nick," you said, sighing heavily. "It feels like everyone around me is finding their person, falling in love, building a life together. And here I am... stuck. Alone."
Nicholas sat beside you, his elbows resting on his knees, listening intently. He had shown up earlier with a bag of your favorite snacks and that calm, steady energy he always brought when you needed him most.
"I feel like... like my dream guy doesn't exist," you continued, voice cracking slightly. "He feels so out of reach, like some fantasy I made up in my head. And I don't think anyone could ever love me like that. I'm just going to end up alone."
Nicholas turned to look at you, his brows furrowed with concern, his eyes soft and searching. "That's not true," he said quietly.
"It feels true," you muttered, staring down at your hands. "I don't even know what I'm doing wrong. Maybe I'm just unlovable."
Nicholas sat up straighter, his expression shifting from concerned to determined. "Hey, stop," he said firmly, his voice cutting through the self-doubt swirling in your mind. "You are not unlovable. And you're definitely not going to end up alone."
You let out a bitter laugh. "How do you know that?"
"Because," he said, his voice softening, "you are the love you're looking for."
You blinked, his words catching you off guard. "What does that even mean?"
Nicholas smiled, a warmth radiating from him that felt like sunshine breaking through the rain. "It means that everything you think you need to find in someone else—you already are. You're the love, Y/N. And anyone who doesn't see that is blind."
You shook your head, unconvinced. "I don't know, Nick..."
He leaned closer, his eyes locking onto yours, his voice steady and full of conviction. "Do you want to know what I see when I look at you? I see someone who smiles and waves at babies in the grocery store, even if they're total strangers. I see someone who holds the door open for people without thinking twice. Someone who treats everyone with respect, no matter who they are."
Your heart began to race as he continued.
"I see someone who loves life, even on the hard days. Someone who loves Jesus and puts their faith at the center of everything they do. I see someone who will stop to help an old man carry his groceries or an old woman cross the street, just because it's the right thing to do. Someone who loves their friends and family so fiercely it's inspiring."
You felt tears welling up in your eyes, but he wasn't finished.
"You're loyal, you're kind, and you're so full of love that it overflows into everything you do. That's who you are, Y/N. You don't need to find love because you are love. And when the right person comes along, they're going to see that and never let you go."
You stared at him, completely floored by his words. Your throat felt tight, and you didn't know how to respond. "Nick, I..."
He took a deep breath, his hand reaching out to cover yours. "And there's one more thing," he said, his voice dropping to a softer, almost trembling tone. "I need to tell you something I've been holding back for a long time."
Your pulse quickened as you met his gaze, his dark eyes full of emotion.
"I've been in love with you for as long as I can remember," he confessed, his words rushing out like a dam breaking. "I've been waiting for the right moment to tell you, but it never felt like the right time. And now... hearing you say you think you're unlovable, it's breaking my heart. Because I love you, Y/N. I love everything about you—the way you laugh, the way you care, the way you light up a room without even trying."
Tears spilled down your cheeks as he continued, his hand tightening around yours.
"I love the way you're always there for everyone, even when you're struggling yourself. I love the way you make me feel like the luckiest guy in the world just by being near you. You are my dream girl, Y/N. And I've been too scared to say it until now."
For a moment, the room was silent except for the sound of your breathing and the rain against the windows. Nicholas watched you nervously, his eyes searching yours for a response.
And then, without thinking, you leaned forward and kissed him.
The moment your lips met, it was like the world faded away. His hand cupped your cheek, his thumb brushing against your skin as he kissed you back with a tenderness that made your heart swell.
When you finally pulled away, your foreheads rested against each other, your breaths mingling in the small space between you.
"I can't believe it took me this long to see it," you whispered, your voice shaking with emotion.
Nicholas smiled, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Better late than never."
You laughed softly, and before you knew it, you were kissing him again. This time, the kiss was deeper, more urgent, as if you were both trying to make up for lost time. His hands slid around your waist, pulling you closer, and you melted into him, feeling safe and cherished in his arms.
Minutes passed, though it felt like no time at all, and when you finally pulled away, you couldn't stop smiling.
"I guess I don't have to worry about dying alone anymore," you teased, your voice light and playful.
Nicholas chuckled, his fingers brushing a strand of hair from your face. "Not a chance. You're stuck with me now."
"Good," you said, leaning your head against his chest. "Because I think I've found my person."
He kissed the top of your head, his arms tightening around you. "You always had me. You just didn't know it yet."
As the rain continued to fall outside, you stayed wrapped in Nicholas's embrace, the ache in your chest replaced with a warmth you hadn't felt in a long time. You didn't need to search for love anymore—it had been right in front of you all along.
