The Photo I Can't Stop Looking At

He sent a casual selfie. Nothing intentional.

Just him, mid-laugh, arm around someone

I don't know. Or I do. I didn't before.

But his face—

there's a softness there I've never seen.

Not when he talked about his ex.

Not when he talked about his dreams.

Not in any moment I've been in.

His eyes are different when he looks at her.

Softer. Reachable.

Like he's finally someone he wanted to be.

I can't stop looking at the photo.

I've looked at it so many times

the details are burned in—

the angle of his shoulder,

the way his hand sits on her back,

the expression that says: I am happy.

And it's not with me.

I should put the phone down.

I should stop this.

But there's something about watching someone

become themselves without you

that you can't turn away from.

It's like watching your own future

happen to someone else.

It's like seeing what you'll never have

and choosing to keep looking anyway.