The evening breeze was soft as Unique and Dove sat on a bench near the church garden. The sun was setting, painting the sky in shades of pink and orange.
Dove took a deep breath, his fingers nervously twisting a small stone in his pocket.
"There's something I've never told anyone," he said quietly, eyes fixed on the ground. "It's not easy to say."
Unique leaned closer, encouraging him with a gentle smile.
"When I was younger, I struggled a lot with who I was, my confidence, my purpose. I wasn't always sure I belonged anywhere," Dove continued. "I kept it hidden because I thought it made me weak."
Unique felt her heart soften. "I didn't know."
"I was afraid if people saw that side of me, they'd look down on me or judge me," Dove said. "Especially in church, where everyone seems so strong."
Unique reached out and squeezed his hand. "We all have doubts and fears. That doesn't make us less. It makes us human."
Dove smiled faintly, relief washing over his face. "Thank you for understanding. It means more than you know."
But even as they shared this moment, Unique couldn't shake a feeling of uncertainty.
A few days later, she noticed Dove talking closely to a woman named Lara at church. They seemed comfortable, laughing softly, as if sharing secrets.
Unique's heart tightened with a strange worry she couldn't explain.
That night, she sent Dove a message:
"Who is Lara to you?"
After a pause, he replied:
"She's someone I knew from my past, someone who reminded me of the doubts I had then. I'm trying to keep things clear with her, but it's complicated."
Unique felt the knot in her stomach grow.
Was there more to Dove's past than he had shared? And if so, would she ever truly understand him?