Under the Spotlight

ween the humdrum of my daily routine and the quiet, persistent weight of his words, Caleb Montgomery, the actor...the man wh

ceful rhythm of my days, the quiet moments where I could lose myself in the pages of stories that felt more alive than anything around me.

a side of him I wasn't used to seeing, not from a man who was used to being followed by cameras and adoring fans. I wanted to believe that

and I looked up from the counter, finding him standing there, a bit unsure of himself, as if he had se

voice quiet but full of

that I was never going to be able to get through a single day without h

g around the counter.

aid, his voice almost apologetic. "I feel like I dropped a bomb on you, and I just want to make sure you know that I'm not trying to complic

ne so forthright about their emotions. But that was Caleb-always on the e

idn't think you were pressuring me. It's just... you're right

d to people wanting something from me. They want my fame, my image, my time. But what you said that day... that you didn't care a

ver the years. I understood. In a world where people saw him as a commodity, where every aspect of his life

dy, even though I wasn't sure I even believed myself

ould see the burden he carried, the way he held himself back, afraid of getting too close. I could feel that fear to

o. More than I

ir, looking frustrated. "I'm not... I'm not the kind of guy who has a lot of stabil

e... maybe we don't have to figure everything out right now. I'm not asking

ion softening. "You're a lot

think I'm just a little tired of expecting things

he tension in the room. It felt like a small victory

le returning, though this time it felt mo

tations, the constant need to be perfect, was a lot to ask of anyone. I knew that. But there was something in the way he looked at me, something in

ink I've got a lot of books to keep me

at your way of saying you're no

of how much I truly wanted to see him again. "Not at all.

nding our footing again. He smiled at me, and I felt som

standing up straight. "