Maybe in Another Time

John is disciplined, thoughtful, and inexperienced. He's never dated anyone. Never had time. Never thought it mattered-until he met her.
Jennifer is brilliant, quiet, and terrified. She's watched love fail before. She knows what happens when you let someone in and they leave.
So she keeps her distance. She barely replies to texts. She builds walls even when she doesn't want to.
And John? He waits.
He waits at the bench outside her office. He bakes her desserts with little doodles. He sends good morning texts that go unread. He gives her flowers every date. He sacrifices job offers and dreams because the thought of losing her feels worse than losing himself.
But how long can devotion survive silence? How much can one person give before there's nothing left?
A story about love that doesn't fix you. About trying your best and it still not being enough. About the quiet, devastating space between wanting someone and being able to keep them.