Emma sat on her bed, scrolling through her phone.
Her fingers hesitated before typing.
Emma: Can I see you, Ryan? Just a photo…
On the other side, Ryan read the message.
His heart sank.
He had known this moment would come.
A photo meant questions.
Questions meant truth.
And truth meant fear.
When Ryan called her, his voice was calm—but his hands were shaking.
"Emma," he said softly, "why now?"
Emma smiled nervously. "I just… want to feel closer to you."
Ryan closed his eyes.
He wanted to be honest.
But he was terrified of losing her.
"Okay," he said after a long pause. "I'll send one."
He searched his phone and picked a random photo he had once saved.
His fingers trembled as he sent it.
The lie felt heavy.
Emma opened the picture and smiled.
"You look kind," she said. "Just like your voice."
Ryan's chest tightened.
"Thank you," he replied quietly.
That night, they talked like always—but something had changed.
Emma felt happy… yet unsure.
Ryan felt guilty… and afraid.
After the call ended, Ryan whispered to himself,
"I'm sorry."
The lie had protected his heart for now—
but it had also built a wall between them.
And somewhere deep inside, Ryan knew—
this lie would one day break them both.