Never stop searching

Lucius gently ran his fingers through Layla's hair as she rested her head on his shoulder. His touch was slow, almost absentminded, as if lost in thought.

"Aren't you hungry?" he finally asked, his voice quiet.

Layla shifted slightly, her fingers tracing soft circles on the back of his hand. "No. You?"

"I don't have an appetite either," he admitted.

She lifted her head slightly, glancing up at him. "You sound... off," she observed. Then, in a gentle and concerned tone, she said, "Tell me what's on your mind."

Lucius hesitated, his gaze fixed on a distant point, as if searching for the right words. After a long pause, he murmured, "When did I become such a coward? I wasn't like this. Why didn't I trust my guts to put my faith in you and share everything with you? Why did I feel lost?"