Ben Bentley had always been different, but he never tried to hide it. Unlike most of the boys at his high school, he was openly gay, even if it meant facing rumors and criticism. But everything changed one summer when he saw Tim Wyman running through his neighborhood. Tim was everything Ben wasn’t: athletic, popular, and seemingly straight. Yet there was something about the way Tim looked at him, something that made Ben believe his feelings weren’t entirely one-sided. For weeks, Ben found himself watching Tim from a distance, dreaming of possibilities that seemed impossible. Until one day, fate intervened. One bike accident, one moment of vulnerability, and suddenly, Ben found himself inside Tim’s house, nursing a wound. The tension between them was undeniable, and when their hands brushed for the first time, Ben felt his world change.
Their secret romance blossomed in the shadows. Late-night calls, stolen kisses behind closed doors, whispered confessions of love that neither of them quite understood. But Tim was afraid. Afraid of what his father would say, afraid of what his friends would think, afraid of what it meant to be in love with another boy. Ben tried to be patient, tried to convince himself that Tim would change his mind, but the constant hiding took its toll. Every moment they spent together was a reminder that Tim wasn’t ready to love him openly. And so, when Tim distanced himself, choosing popularity and security over love, Ben knew he had to walk away, even if it broke his heart.
Years passed, and Ben moved on. He embraced life in a way he never thought possible, finding comfort in the arms of Jace Holden. Jace was different from Tim in every way: open, kind, and unwavering in love. With Jace, Ben never had to hide. They built a life together, filled with laughter, late-night dances in the kitchen, and dreams of a future unburdened by the past. For the first time, Ben felt safe, felt unconditionally loved. He thought he’d finally put his heartbreak behind him, until one day, Tim Wyman walked back into his life. Seeing him was like stepping into a dream, both familiar and evocative. Tim was older, different, but the same. And when he spoke, when he told Ben he’d never stopped loving him, everything Ben had buried came flooding back.
Ben found himself torn between two loves. Jace was his stability, his future, the one who had shown him what true love was. But Tim was his past, his first love, the one who had broken him and yet, somehow, still held a piece of his heart. The nights grew long, filled with restless thoughts and unspoken words. Every memory of Tim resurfaced, both the joy and the pain. He wanted to believe Tim had changed, that he wouldn’t break his heart again. But could he risk everything for someone who once let him go? Could he turn his back on the man who never asked him to hide?
Just when Ben thought he had time to decide, life made the decision for him. Tragedy struck, sudden and cruel, shaking him to his core. In an instant, he understood how fragile love was, how quickly it could be snatched away. After the loss, Ben understood that love wasn’t about the past or the future, but the present. It was about the people who stood by him, even in the darkest times. And when he finally looked up, when he truly saw the man who had been there all along, he knew where his heart belonged.
Ben had spent years searching for love, believing it was something he should fight for. But in the end, love had always been there, steady and unwavering, waiting for him to choose it. As he took Jace’s hand, he felt a sense of peace wash over him. He would always love Tim, always treasure what they had shared, but love was more than just a memory. It was a promise, a choice he made every day. And Ben was finally ready to choose.
