Months had passed since I first saw him, and my feelings for him had only grown stronger. Every time he walked by, my heart would race, and my palms would sweat. I knew I had to tell him how I felt, but I was afraid of rejection.

One day, I mustered up the courage to ask him to meet me after work. We sat down at a nearby café, and I nervously sipped my coffee as I tried to find the right words.

"I know this might sound crazy, but I have to tell you something," I finally said. "I've had feelings for you since the day I met you. I know we've never really talked, but I just had to get this off my chest."

He looked surprised but didn't say anything for a few moments. I couldn't tell if he was about to reject me or if he was just trying to find the right words to say.

Finally, he spoke. "I had no idea," he said. "You always seemed so confident and put-together. I had no idea you were feeling this way."

My heart sank. Had I misread all the signs? Had I been deluding myself this whole time?

"But," he continued, "I have to be honest with you. I don't feel the same way. I'm sorry."

I felt a lump form in my throat, and I struggled to hold back tears. I had known this was a possibility, but it still hurt.

"Thank you for being honest with me," I managed to say. "I guess I just needed to get this off my chest."

We finished our coffee in silence, and I left the café feeling embarrassed and rejected. But as I walked home, I realized that at least I had tried. And who knows? Maybe someday, he'll feel the same way about me.