There’s no grand moment where everything changes.

One day they’re just the person you text first. The person who knows what kind of day you’re having from one word. The one seat you automatically save.

You don’t realize you’ve crossed the line until someone asks if you’re dating.

“No.” You both answer too fast.

I like that kind of love.

The kind that grows while neither of you is paying attention.

Where missing them doesn’t feel dramatic because you’ve always missed them. You’ve always looked for them in a room. You’ve always walked a little slower so they could catch up.

Then one day they tell you they met someone.

And you smile because… why wouldn’t you?

They’re your friend. You want them to be happy.

So you ask if she’s nice. You ask to see a picture.

You even mean it.

Then you get home and realize you don’t know what to do with yourself because the person you’ve been quietly looking forward to all week suddenly belongs somewhere else.

How can your heart break over something that was never yours? Maybe that’s why it always gets me.

Not because they finally kiss.