Tristan sat on the edge of his bed, his thoughts swirling with doubt and uncertainty. He had noticed the gradual shift, how his friend had begun spending more time with a new group, laughing and sharing moments that Tristan once thought were reserved just for the two of them. The fear of being left behind gnawed at him, turning his stomach into knots.

Finally, unable to hold it in any longer, Tristan decided to confront the growing distance. He found his friend in the hallway after school, surrounded by the new group, their laughter echoing off the lockers. As his friend noticed him and stepped away from the group, Tristan hesitated for a moment, searching for the right words, feeling the weight of his insecurity pressing down on him.

"Are we okay?" Tristan asked, his voice quieter than he intended, his eyes searching his friend’s face for reassurance. The question carried all the unspoken fears he had been holding onto—fear of being replaced, of no longer being important, of losing someone who meant so much to him.