Late nights had always been a battleground for Mia. Arguments would flare up over the most trivial of things, often leaving her feeling more isolated than ever, even when she lay beside him in bed. The mornings would greet her with the weight of unspoken words and lingering tensions. Yet, she found comfort in the simple things, like the heart drawn around her name in the margins of his notebook, the only evidence of affection that felt genuine.

They often found themselves sneaking out into the vibrant night, holding hands under the streetlights. Those moments felt like a refuge from their mundane reality, where they could simply be young and restless, lost in the thrill of each other’s company. Mia often pondered how their lives seemed to run parallel until they finally intertwined; each past relationship, each heartbreak bringing them closer to each other.

Their song played softly in the background during quiet moments, a reminder of how past loves shaped them both. “It’s amazing how every girl you loved before brought you to me,” Mia whispered one evening as they sat on the rooftop, stars dangling overhead like wishes waiting to be granted. He smiled, pulling her closer, treating her with the reverence she craved.

In her heart, Mia felt gratitude for all the flings and relationships that preceded theirs. “Every dead-end street led you straight to me,” she said, reflecting on how each detour brought him to her embrace. And even as the memories of make-up and break-ups swirled through her mind, she knew that the hearts they had once worn on their sleeves were threads woven into the fabric of their love now. They had both cried over lost connections, hidden away in public restrooms, and had learned lessons that couldn’t be taught in a classroom.

He had learned kindness and loyalty growing up, and Mia admired that about him. Their teenage love was filled with innocent lessons, teaching them that goodbyes weren’t always failures, but a passage to something new. “Let me show you how forever feels,” she said quietly, brushing a lock of hair behind his ear, their gazes locking with a promise intertwining between them.

Mia couldn’t help but to love him more, thankful for the journey that had brought them together. Each girl he loved before her became a stepping stone leading to the love they shared now. It was messy and complicated, yet beautiful in its own right. And as they sat beneath the universe, entangled in each other’s arms, she whispered for the first time, “I love you more.”