Liam never planned to ruin his life.

It started with something small—glances across the office, the accidental brush of fingers, a conversation that lingered too long. Clara was young, full of life in a way that made him feel like he was waking up from a dream he hadn’t realized he’d been stuck in.

Emily, his wife of ten years, was steady. Predictable. The mother of his son, the woman who had stood beside him through job losses, sickness, and quiet, ordinary days that seemed to blur into one another. He had once loved that steadiness. But over time, love had turned into routine, and routine had turned into something that felt an awful lot like loneliness.

And then Clara appeared.

She laughed at his jokes, touched his arm when she spoke, made him feel seen in a way he hadn’t in years. At first, it was harmless—coffee breaks, late meetings, an excuse to text when he should have been heading home.

Then, one night, it became more.

Liam told himself it was just a mistake. That he would stop. That it didn’t mean anything. But then it happened again. And again.

And soon, stopping felt impossible.

Emily knew before he ever said a word.

She didn’t accuse him, didn’t rage or cry. She just knew. It was in the way he came home later each night, the way he no longer reached for her in bed, the way his eyes carried the guilt of a man who had already made a decision he was too afraid to say out loud.

"Is there someone else?" she finally asked one evening, her voice calm. Too calm.

Liam hesitated. A better man would have lied. A better man would have fought to fix things.

But he wasn’t a better man.

"Yes," he admitted, the word tasting like poison on his tongue.

Emily nodded, as if she had already prepared herself for this moment. "Are you leaving?"

He swallowed hard. Clara was exciting. Clara was new. He thought he loved her—or at least, he loved what she made him feel.

"I think so," he said.

Emily exhaled softly. She didn’t beg. Didn’t plead. She just looked at him with the kind of sadness that made his chest ache.

"Okay," she whispered.

And just like that, it was over.

The night he left, he packed a single suitcase.

He kissed his sleeping son on the forehead, ignoring the guilt that clawed at his insides. He told himself he would still be a good father, that he would visit, that nothing would change except where he slept at night.

But as he walked out that door, he had no idea that some choices couldn’t be undone.

And that by the time he realized what he had truly lost—Emily, his son, the quiet love that had once been enough—there would be no road back home.

###

Sorry..if my story is not into your liking>~<

Liam met Emily when they were six years old.

She lived in the house next door, a girl with scraped knees and a laugh that was always a little louder than everyone else’s. She beat him in races down their street, climbed trees higher than he ever dared, and never let him forget it.

"Scared, Liam?" she teased, sitting on a thick tree branch as he stood below, hesitating.

"No," he lied.

She grinned, swinging her legs before jumping down, landing in the dirt with a confidence he envied.

"Then climb."

He did, because he never wanted to be the boy who disappointed Emily.

---

As they grew older, their friendship changed, but never in ways that made sense to Liam at the time.

She was his best friend, the one he told everything to. The one who sat beside him on her porch on summer nights, listening as he talked about his dreams of leaving their small town.

"You’ll go far, Liam," she told him once, staring at the stars. "I can feel it."

"And you?" he asked.

"I don’t know. Maybe I’ll stay. Maybe I won’t. But either way, we’ll be okay, right?"

"Yeah," he said, and he believed it.

But then high school came, and Emily stopped being just Emily.

She became the girl who made his heart race when she laughed. The one he searched for in crowded hallways, the one he thought about late at night when he should have been sleeping.

It happened slowly—so slowly that he didn’t even realize he was in love with her until the day another boy asked her to prom.

Liam had never cared much about school dances, never even planned on going. But when he heard Emily say yes to someone else, something inside him twisted in a way he didn’t understand.

That night, he lay awake, staring at the ceiling, trying to make sense of the ache in his chest.

And then, like a slap to the face, it hit him.

He loved her.

Not in the way he had always told himself—not just as his best friend, not just as the girl next door.

He loved her in the way that terrified him. In the way that made him want to rewrite every plan he had ever made.

But by the time he realized it, she was already slipping through his fingers.

And the worst part?

He had no idea that years later, he’d be the one letting her go.

...

Liam never planned to confess his feelings to Emily. Not because he didn’t want to, but because he was too afraid of ruining everything. They had always been best friends, inseparable from childhood. They laughed at the same jokes, shared the same dreams, and even endured the same heartbreaks. But somewhere along the way, somewhere between late-night talks and endless summers, something inside him had shifted.

He started noticing things about Emily that he hadn’t before—the way her eyes sparkled when she spoke about the future, the way her laugh made him feel at home, even when he was a thousand miles away. He became more aware of the small gestures, the way she would brush her hair behind her ear or the way she always made sure he had the last piece of pizza.

It was subtle at first, his growing feelings for her. But with every passing year, it became harder to ignore. He loved her. But he loved her in a way that went beyond friendship. And it scared him.

One afternoon, when they were in their final year of college, the moment arrived. They were sitting on the porch of their favorite café, the sun setting and casting a warm glow over everything. Emily was talking about her plans for the future, about how she was thinking of moving away to start a career. Liam watched her, a lump forming in his throat. He had known this day was coming, but he never imagined how much it would hurt.

She paused mid-sentence and glanced at him, as though sensing something was off. "You okay?" she asked, her voice gentle.

Liam’s heart thudded in his chest. He took a deep breath, his hands trembling. "Actually, there’s something I need to say," he began, his voice quieter than he intended.

Emily tilted her head, waiting for him to continue.

He could feel the weight of his own words building up inside him. He wanted to tell her how much he cared, how he had always cared, but something held him back. He had spent years hiding it, convincing himself that it would ruin everything. But now, with her looking at him like that, with that hopeful, trusting smile, he realized there was no more time for pretending.

"Emily," he said, his voice shaky. "I’ve been thinking a lot about us lately. About everything we’ve shared. And I—I’ve realized something." He paused, taking another deep breath to steady himself. "I’ve been in love with you for a long time."

The words hung in the air between them, and for a moment, everything stopped. Emily blinked, clearly taken aback. She opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out.

Liam's heart pounded as he continued. "I know this might seem out of nowhere, and I never meant to put this on you, but I couldn’t keep it inside anymore. I can’t keep pretending that I don’t feel this way."

There was silence. A long, heavy silence. Liam felt like he had just bared his soul to her, and now he was waiting for her to shatter it.

Finally, Emily looked away, her gaze focused on the street in front of them. Her expression was unreadable, and it made Liam’s chest tighten in dread.

Liam had never been more afraid in his life. As the words tumbled out, confessing what he had kept hidden for so long, his heart hammered in his chest. Emily, who had been his best friend for years, was staring at him with wide, uncertain eyes.

He had expected silence. He had expected rejection, or worse, for her to brush it off as if it were just a passing thought. But instead, Emily’s expression shifted—something in her eyes softened, and the hesitation that had filled the air between them seemed to dissipate.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke. The only sound was the distant hum of traffic and the occasional rustle of leaves in the breeze. Liam thought he might die from the weight of the silence.

Finally, Emily spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "Liam…" she said, her tone delicate, as if testing the words before letting them fall. "I had no idea."

He swallowed, his heart in his throat. "I know. I never meant to make things complicated. I didn’t want to ruin what we have."

Emily shook her head slowly. "You didn’t ruin anything, Liam. You just surprised me. But… I’ve been thinking about this a lot. About you. About us."

Liam’s stomach twisted. Was this the part where she told him she didn’t feel the same? He wasn’t sure he could bear it.

“You know,” Emily continued, her gaze softening, “I’ve always felt something special with you. But I guess I just never realized how deep it went… until now.”

Liam’s heart skipped a beat. She couldn’t possibly be saying what he thought she was saying, could she?

“What do you mean?” he asked, his voice trembling slightly, afraid to hope.

Emily took a deep breath, her eyes meeting his with a steady resolve. "I mean… I think I’ve always known, too, in my own way. Maybe I was just too afraid to admit it. But Liam, I’ve always cared about you. More than just a friend. And hearing you say all of this—well, it makes me realize that I feel the same way."

The words hit him like a wave, and for a second, he could hardly process what she was saying. His chest tightened, and his mind raced. He had thought that confessing would change everything—maybe for the worse—but this? This was everything he had ever dreamed of, and yet, he couldn’t quite believe it.

“You do?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper, as if speaking too loudly might shatter the fragile reality that was unfolding before him.

Emily nodded, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "I do, Liam. I always have. I just never wanted to risk losing what we had."

Liam felt his heart swell in his chest, the relief crashing over him like a tidal wave. He stepped forward, unsure of what to do, his hands shaking slightly. "So… what now?" he asked, his voice barely audible.

Emily smiled softly, and for the first time, Liam saw something more than just the familiar warmth in her eyes. There was something deeper, something that spoke of shared history, of years spent together—of love. “I think we take this one step at a time,” she said. “We figure out what this means for us. But I’m not scared anymore.”

Liam laughed, a mix of disbelief and happiness bubbling up from deep within him. “You’re not scared?”

“No,” Emily said, her voice more confident now. “Because with you, I know I’m not making a mistake.”

Liam’s heart was full to bursting. For the first time in years, everything felt right. All the doubts, all the fears, they melted away in that one moment. Emily had always been there—his best friend, his anchor—and now, she was something more. She was the love he had been waiting for, the one he had never realized he needed so desperately until he finally saw her in this new light.

Without thinking, he reached out and took her hand. The touch was familiar, comforting, but now it felt different—charged with the energy of everything unsaid. Everything that had been simmering beneath the surface for so long.

“I’m not scared either,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. “Not anymore. As long as I’m with you, I’m ready for whatever comes next.”

They stood there, hand in hand, for what felt like a lifetime. Emily’s smile was a quiet promise, an unspoken agreement that this wasn’t the end of their story, but just the beginning.

Liam had always feared that confessing his feelings would ruin what they had. But in that moment, he realized that telling her the truth had been the best thing he could have ever done. They were no longer just two friends navigating life side by side. Now, they were two hearts entwined, each with their own story, but now with a shared future.

And as the sun began to set behind them, painting the world in soft hues of gold and pink, Liam knew that this was the start of something new. Something beautiful. Something that would last forever.

It was a Saturday, one of those perfect, lazy afternoons that felt like a scene from a movie. Liam and Emily had spent the entire day together, doing the simple things they always enjoyed. The sun was setting behind the hills, casting a warm glow across the city, and the breeze carried the scent of fresh grass and blooming flowers. They were sitting on the old blanket they always used for picnics in the park, laughing about something trivial, their faces lit up by the golden light. Everything felt effortless, as though the universe had aligned perfectly for this moment.

Liam looked at Emily, her hair falling softly around her shoulders, her eyes sparkling with life, and he couldn’t help but smile. It had been a year since they had confessed their feelings for each other, a year since they had taken that first tentative step into something more than friendship. And now, here they were—closer than ever, more in love than he thought possible.

But there was something different about that day, something unspoken in the way she looked at him, in the way she rested her hand on her stomach. He noticed the subtle changes, the way she seemed a little quieter than usual, her mind clearly elsewhere.

“What’s on your mind?” Liam asked gently, leaning in closer, his voice soft with concern.

Emily smiled, but it was a little hesitant. She sat up slightly, her fingers nervously twisting a strand of grass. “I’m just… I’m not sure how to say this.”

Liam’s stomach dropped. He could tell something was weighing on her. He reached out, taking her hand in his, squeezing it reassuringly. “Whatever it is, you can tell me.”

She took a deep breath, her eyes flicking to the ground before meeting his gaze. “Liam, I’ve been feeling strange lately… tired, a little nauseous. I thought it was just stress, but I… I took a test this morning.”

The world seemed to stop for a moment. Liam’s heart skipped a beat as the words sank in. He blinked, unsure if he had heard her correctly. “A test?” he repeated, his voice trembling.

She nodded, her expression a mixture of nervousness and something else—something he couldn’t quite place. “I’m pregnant, Liam.”

The words hung in the air, heavy and surreal. Liam felt his breath catch in his chest, his mind racing as he tried to process what she had just said. Pregnant? They hadn’t even talked about having kids yet. They had only just started to figure out their life together, just begun to take their relationship to the next level.

And yet, as he looked at Emily, he saw the way her eyes searched his face, the vulnerability in her expression. This was a moment neither of them had planned for, but it was happening now, and it was real.

Liam’s first instinct was to feel a rush of panic, a flood of questions. How was this going to change everything? Were they ready? He had no idea what the future held. But then, as he looked at Emily, he saw the warmth in her eyes, the trust that had always been there between them. And in that moment, everything shifted.

He had always known that life with Emily would be full of surprises, of twists and turns. But this—this was something more. This was the beginning of their own little family. And no matter how unprepared he felt, he knew one thing for sure: he wanted to be by her side, now and forever.

Liam gently cupped her face in his hands, his thumb brushing her cheek. “You’re… you’re really pregnant?” he asked again, as though needing to hear it once more, just to be sure.

Emily nodded, her lips curving into a nervous, yet hopeful smile. “Yeah. I am.”

A wave of emotion washed over him then—something that was both overwhelming and comforting. His heart swelled with love for her, for the life they were about to bring into the world. There was fear, yes, and uncertainty, but there was also an incredible sense of awe. This was the woman he loved, and together, they were going to create something beautiful.

“Are you sure?” Liam asked, his voice thick with emotion.

Emily laughed softly, wiping away a tear that had slipped down her cheek. “I’m sure.”

Liam pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly, as if to make sure she was real, as if to make sure this moment, this new chapter of their lives, was really happening. He pressed his lips to the top of her head, breathing in her scent. “We’re going to be okay,” he whispered, more to himself than to her. “We’ll figure this out. Together.”

Emily held him just as tightly, her body relaxing into his embrace. “I know,” she whispered back. “We always do.”

They stayed there for a long time, wrapped in each other’s arms, the weight of the news settling in, but also the warmth of a love they had built over years of friendship and shared experiences. It wasn’t the perfect time. There would be challenges ahead, things they hadn’t yet considered. But as they sat there together, holding on to one another, Liam realized something—there was nothing he wanted more than to face those challenges with Emily by his side.

As the sun set and the stars began to emerge in the darkening sky, Liam kissed Emily’s forehead, the enormity of the moment sinking in. This was the start of something they hadn’t expected, something that was beyond anything they had ever imagined.

And though the road ahead was uncertain, one thing was clear: they would walk it together, hand in hand, with their love as their guide.

Their little family had begun.