Tales From The Mind of Thomas

Ryan felt his heart race as his mind flooded with thoughts of Amber. Every spare moment, he thought of her—her bright smile, the way her nose crinkled when she laughed. Whenever he looked into her eyes, he felt a comfortable sense of being lost in them.

He grew restless every night, wondering if she thought about him as he did about her. The uncertainty weighed heavily on his heart. The nights passed, and his body grew weary from restless slumber. By morning, he couldn’t go on wondering.

He quickly sent her a message, asking if she would like to get some coffee at her favorite place. As the minutes ticked by, his mind flooded with worry. His heart raced, and his hands trembled. He grew anxious until finally, his phone buzzed. The familiar tune he assigned to her rang out. Trepidation welled up within him. He was afraid to look at his phone, but he needed to know her response.

Relief washed over him as he read, “Coffee sounds great!”

Ryan arrived at the coffee shop early, choosing a quiet corner where they could talk. His thoughts were a whirlwind of what-ifs and hopes. He rehearsed his confession in his mind, trying to find the perfect words. Each time the door opened; his heart skipped a beat.

Amber entered the café, immediately scanning the place. A focused look of concentration etched her face. Her eyes lit up when she saw him, and she waved with a bright smile, making her way to the table.

“Hey, Ryan!” she greeted cheerfully, sliding into the seat across from him. “Sorry if I kept you waiting.”

“Hey, Amber. No, not at all,” Ryan replied, trying to keep his voice steady. “Thanks for coming.”

“Of course! So, what’s up?” Amber asked, her cheeks creased as the corners of her mouth formed a smile, her eyes twinkling with curiosity.

Ryan felt his pulse quicken. His breath grew shallow. His hands shivered, and his leg bounced rapidly. “I, um…” were the only words he could muster.

Amber’s smile softened, and she leaned in slightly. “Ryan, is everything okay?”

He took a deep breath, willing himself to speak. “Amber, there’s something I need to tell you. It’s been on my mind for a while, and I just can’t keep it to myself any longer.”

She tilted her head slightly, her expression attentive and encouraging. “What is it?”

Ryan felt his hands grow clammy; his heart raced as if he had sprinted. “Amber, I, uh…” His eyes welled up. “I think I’ve fallen for you. I can’t stop thinking about you. At night, I lay awake thinking about you. Whenever I do anything, I wish you were there. You’re the first thing I think about in the morning, and the last in the evening.” He confessed, slowly gaining more courage as he spoke.

“Whenever I talk to you, I get lost in what you say. Hearing you speak makes me fall for you over and over again. Out of all my friends, I know more about you than anyone else. Whenever we hang out, I feel a sense of pure joy in your presence. I feel a sense of vulnerability when I’m with you. You make me feel alive again. A feeling I haven’t felt in years.” He admitted.

“I know deep down inside my heart that my feelings for you are real. They are not fabricated things but something tangible. Amber, I have fallen in love with you.”

Amber’s eyes widened, her expression shifting from surprise to something unreadable. She opened her mouth, hesitated, and then…