DYLAN

It was early morning when Jack changed everything between us. In an instant, everything we had was gone.

I could sense something was wrong with Jack. He seemed distant and lost in thoughts.

"Why do you look so serious?" I teased as I lay next to him in bed.

Jack turned to me.

"Dylan," he said hesitantly. "We need to talk."

My heart sank as I saw the unease in his eyes.

"Sure, what's on your mind?"

Jack took a deep breath, struggling to find the right words. "I... I think we should break things off."

My eyes widened and a mix of confusion and hurt washed over me.

"What? Why? What did I do?"

"It's not you," he said, his voice trembling slightly. "It's me. I just... I can't do this. I'm not interested anymore."

My mind raced with questions, but I could see the pain in Jack's eyes and I knew pushing further might only hurt him more. Instead I took a deep breath and tried to maintain composure. "Okay, if that's what you want."

Jack seemed relieved that I wasn't pushing back, but the truth was my heart was breaking. I couldn't understand why Jack was suddenly pulling away and the lack of closure left me feeling lost and vulnerable.

As the conversation grew more strained, emotions began to flare, and the argument escalated. Words were exchanged, some of them hurtful, as the pain of the situation amplified the tension between us. Jack's cold feet and uncertainty about his own feelings were clashing with my feelings of rejection and confusion.

"I thought we had something special, Jack," I said, my voice cracking with emotion.

"But now you're just walking away without even giving us a chance."

"I'm sorry, Dylan," Jack replied, his eyes welling up with tears. "I can't do this. It's too much for me right now."

With those words, Jack got up from the bed and walked away, leaving me feeling shattered and alone. As Jack closed the front door of my apartment and left, I sat there, trying to process the sudden end to what I thought was a beautiful connection.

DYLAN

In the days that followed, I felt a mix of sadness and anger. I couldn't help but wonder if I had done something wrong or if there was something I could have done differently. I missed Jack, but I also knew that I deserved someone who was ready to be open and honest about their feelings.

The days following the sudden end of my relationship with Jack felt like an emotional rollercoaster. I sat alone in my small apartment, replaying the moments I had shared with Jack, wondering where it all went wrong. Self-doubt and regret gnawed at me as I questioned my decision to open my heart to someone once again.

"I should've known better," I muttered to myself, a mix of frustration and sadness in my voice. "I promised I wouldn't let anyone in, and yet I let myself fall for him."

I paced back and forth, feeling a deep ache in my chest. I had built walls around my heart, protecting myself from getting hurt after a past relationship had left scars that hadn't completely healed. But in Jack's presence, those walls had crumbled, and I had allowed myself to feel vulnerable once more.

With a heavy sigh, I realized that this pain was something I needed to face on my own. I knew I couldn't blame Jack entirely; it was my own decision to take that risk, even though I wasn't sure I was ready for it.

Sitting down on the couch, I felt tears welling up in my eyes. I had let myself hope, allowed myself to believe that things would be different this time. But now, I was left with a heartache that I didn't know how to mend.

JACK

In the days that followed, I felt a mix of sadness and regret. I couldn't help but tell myself that I should've known this would happen. Pretending to be a girl was a terrible idea—a cruel and stupid joke. I deceived Dylan, and it hurt both of us.

But amidst the guilt, I couldn't deny that I had genuine feelings for Dylan. I cherished the time we spent together, the laughter, the moments of connection. It was real, and I was happy I met him.

Yet, I wished things could be different. I wished I could've been honest with him from the start. I asked myself, why couldn't I have been a girl instead? Why couldn't we have met under different circumstances, without the lies and the deception?

The fear of admitting my feelings consumed me. I wanted to be someone else—someone who wasn't afraid of his emotions, someone who could face the truth without fear of judgement.

As I replayed our time together in my mind, I felt a pang of remorse. I had let my insecurities get the best of me, pushing away someone who genuinely cared for me. My heart ached, and I wished I could turn back time and do things differently.

In the end, the façade I had created was too much to sustain. It was a cruel game, and I had hurt both Dylan and myself. I knew I had to confront my fears and be honest with myself and those around me.

Despite the pain, I was grateful for the time we had shared. Dylan had brought happiness into my life, and I knew that I needed to find the strength to be true to myself. I needed to embrace who I was, even if it meant facing the uncertainty and vulnerability that came with it.

I hoped that one day, I could be the person I wanted to be—someone who could love openly and honestly, without fear of judgment or rejection. And maybe, just maybe, in that newfound honesty, I would find a love that was genuine and true.

JACK

In the days that followed, I felt the weight of my secrets burdening me, and it was becoming increasingly hard to keep up the pretense. My four closest male friends sensed that something was off, and they gathered me for a serious talk.

"You've been distant lately, Jack," Ben said gently. "Is there something you want to talk about?"

My heart pounded in my chest, and I knew I couldn't hide the truth from them any longer. "Yeah, there is," I began, my voice quivering. "I've been talking to someone, and I'm afraid because I don't know how anyone would react if they found out."

Their concerned eyes locked onto mine, and I felt a mixture of fear and relief as I continued, "It's just that this person... They mean a lot to me. But I can’t be with him.”

"It's just that I've never felt like this before," I confessed, my voice barely above a whisper. "I'm scared of how people, especially my parents, will react if they find out that I'm dating them."

Then, one by one, my friends spoke up, their voices full of love and acceptance. "Jack, there's nothing wrong with being gay," Daniel said firmly. "Love is love, no matter what gender the person you love is."

“Wait,” I said. “But... how did you....”

“You said ‘him’,” Daniel said.

“Shit,” I said and groaned.

“Hey, it’s okay. You don't have to feel bad about who you are," James added, giving me a reassuring smile. "We accept you just the way you are, and your parents will too. They love you, and they'll come around."

They reminded me that finding someone I cared about deeply was a beautiful thing, and that I shouldn't let fear hold me back from happiness.

"Who would've thought that that stupid drunk dare would lead you to find your soulmate?" Mark said with a chuckle.

"Do you have deep feelings for him?" Ben asked gently.

I nodded, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "Yes, I do," I admitted.

"Then you need to make things right with him," Daniel said. "You deserve to be happy, and you shouldn't let fear get in the way of that."

Their words of encouragement and support lifted a weight off my shoulders. It was as if a dam had burst, and I felt a sense of relief in finally being honest with myself and my friends.

I thanked them for their understanding and acceptance, grateful to have such supportive friends in my life. With newfound courage, I knew it was time to face my fears and be true to myself, no matter the outcome. It was time to make things right with the person who had captured my heart, and to embrace the love I had found, regardless of gender.

DYLAN

As the sun began to set, I noticed the vibrant colors of the carnival lights painting the sky once again. But this time, the carnival held a different meaning for Jack and me. It was a chance for a fresh start, a symbol of second chances and the possibility of rebuilding what we had lost.

When I arrived back at my apartment, I found a surprise waiting for me outside my door—a small package with a teddy bear tied with a red ribbon, accompanied by a bouquet of roses and a heartfelt "I'm sorry" card. It was the same teddy bear Jack had won for me at the carnival—the one I had accidentally left behind at his place.

Confusion filled me as I picked up the package. I wondered who could have left this thoughtful gift. As I read the words in the card, my heart started to flutter. It didn't take long for me to realize that it was Jack, and my emotions became a whirlwind of surprise, anger, and happiness.

Just as I was trying to process the situation, I heard footsteps approaching from around the corner. And there, walking towards me with a mix of nervousness and hope in his eyes, was Jack.

My initial reaction was a blend of surprise and irritation, but deep down, I couldn't help feeling glad to see him again. I allowed Jack to explain himself, and his sincerity touched me.

"Dylan, I'm so sorry," Jack said, his voice trembling with emotion. "I should have been honest with you from the beginning. I was scared of my feelings, scared of how people would react if they found out. I let fear dictate my actions, and I hurt you in the process."

I listened to his words, and although I felt hurt, I knew that Jack deserved a chance to make things right. I couldn't ignore the fact that I missed him too, even when I was upset with him.

"I'm sorry too," I finally admitted, my voice softening. "I shouldn't have pushed you away like that. I didn't understand why you suddenly pulled back, and it hurt me."

Tears welled up in Jack's eyes as he confessed, "I missed you so much, Dylan. More than I could put into words. But I need your help. I've never done anything like this before—I've never been in a relationship with a guy, and it's scary. I need you to be there with me, to help me come out."

I smiled softly, understanding his vulnerability. "You don't have to do this alone," I reassured him. "I'll be there with you every step of the way. We'll figure it out together, and I promise you, it'll be worth it."

With that, I took a step closer, and Jack met me halfway. Our eyes locked, and in that moment, everything seemed to make sense. The weight of our shared journey, the ups and downs we had already faced, and the love that still lingered between us—it all became clear.

Hand in hand, we walked back into my apartment. Together, we would face the world, embracing our love and defying the fears that once held us back. Our hearts were open, and we were ready to embark on this journey—together, hand in hand.

JACK

A year later, as we stood before each other, surrounded by our loved ones, Dylan and I exchanged vows, promising to love each other until the end of time. The moment was surreal, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of overwhelming happiness.

As the words of our vows filled the air, I looked into Dylan's eyes, and I knew that pretending to be a girl on a dating profile was the best decision I ever made. It was a silly and stupid dare back then, but it brought us together. It led me to the love of my life, and I couldn't be more grateful.

The journey from that fateful day meeting on the app to this moment had been a rollercoaster of emotions and experiences. We had faced challenges, overcome obstacles, and grown together in ways I never thought possible.

And now, here we were, becoming husband and husband, starting a new chapter in our lives. As we sealed our vows with our first kiss as a married couple, my heart soared with joy. It was a kiss that held all the love, passion, and commitment we had for each other.

Surrounded by our family and friends, the warmth of their love and support enveloped us. It was a reminder of the love we had created together, a love that had blossomed and flourished over the years.

It had been tough for my family to accept it at first. But after a year of getting to know and love Dylan they have started to accept me for who I am. My friends were our biggest supporters and they stood by me and stood up for me in front of their own family and friends.

And through our story we’ve even inspired one of my friends to come out as trans, something he’d been afraid to do since he was young.

Knowing that I could make a difference in his life just by standing up for who I was and being true to myself makes every terrifying fearful thought I had during that time worth it.

But standing here, in this moment, I couldn't help but reflect on the journey that had led us here. The fears we had conquered together. It all felt like fate had conspired to bring us together, to show us that love could conquer all.

As we danced and celebrated with our loved ones, I knew that my life had been forever changed by Dylan's presence in it. He was my rock, my confidant, and my best friend. And now, he was my husband.

I looked around at the smiling faces of our friends and family, and I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude. Their love and acceptance had been a guiding light, giving us the courage to be true to ourselves and to each other.

As the night went on, I took Dylan's hand in mine, and we stole a moment away from the crowd. Looking into his eyes, I whispered, "You are my everything, Dylan. I love you more than words can express."

He smiled back at me, his eyes filled with love, and said, "And you are mine, jack. I couldn't imagine my life without you."

The love we had discovered, the love that had blossomed from a simple dare, was the kind of love that would last until the end of time.

And I was grateful every day that it had led me to the most incredible person in the world.

Dylan.