Simon's confession 2

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As the mansion's walls absorbed the distant clamor, Simon and Gabriella were left suspended in a moment of uncertainty.

The room seemed to hold its breath as Simon's words tumbled out, each confession a shard of his history that he had held close to his chest for so long. The flickering lamplight cast intricate patterns on his face, revealing the raw vulnerability etched in the lines of his expression. Across from him, Gabriella's eyes never wavered, her gaze a steady anchor amidst the storm of his revelations.

The echo of Simon's admission lingered, a poignant reminder of the complexities that lay beneath the surface of their interactions. Gabriella listened, not just with her ears, but with her heart—an organ that seemed to expand to accommodate the weight of his words, the resonance of his emotions.

"I and Richard went to the same college," Simon's voice was a soft murmur, a glimpse into a time that felt both distant and vivid. "We were friends, Gabriella, until the girl I love