It begins with him listening—really listening—when no one else notices something is wrong. With time, he becomes a constant: a steady presence in the quiet hours, a voice that knows how to calm, a familiarity that feels dangerously safe. Emotional reliance forms in small ways—shared routines, private conversations, the comfort of being understood without explanation. By the time the intimacy is undeniable, it’s already woven into their days, and letting go feels more impossible than staying. Some connections don’t announce themselves as forbidden. They just feel like home