Lyra's been hopelessly smitten with her best friend, Alex, since childhood. But Alex is undeniably gay, leaving her stuck in the friend zone. To protect their bond, Lyra keeps her crush under wraps. Years fly by, and the unsaid truth festers. Alex's constant affection - the casual touches, the lingering gazes - send shivers down Lyra's spine. Despite knowing it's a one-way track, she craves his closeness. Can her love remain a secret, or will it shatter their cherished friendship? ***** A/N: Because I value complete honesty, I'm letting it be known that this short description is a paraphrased version of the original. I didn't think it was good enough, so I went to AI for help. BUT, the entire story is my own work, I had no external influence during the writing process, and probably won't for now. So as usual, read and enjoy. Share it as well if you can. It really means a lot.