**Scene: A dimly lit park at dusk. The sky is darkening, the air cool. A bench sits beneath a large oak tree, and a faint breeze stirs the leaves. Two people, SAM and ALEX, are sitting side by side, their shoulders brushing. Tension hangs between them.**

---

**SAM:**

(quietly)

I... I don’t know how to say this, but—

(he pauses, looks down at his hands)

I think I’ve loved you for a long time.

**ALEX:**

(startled, but not surprised)

What? Sam... you’re not— you don’t mean that, do you?

**SAM:**

(sighs, looking at the ground)

I do. I’ve been trying to bury it, pretend like I don’t feel it... but it’s been there for too long. Every time I see you, it’s like everything else fades away. It’s just you, and I— I can’t pretend anymore.

**ALEX:**

(takes a breath, looking away)

But we— we’re just friends. You know that. You’re like a brother to me, Sam. This... this isn’t— it can’t be real. We can’t just— we can’t change everything just because you’re suddenly saying—

**SAM:**

(shakes his head)

I’ve tried to fight it. I swear to you, I’ve tried. But I can’t stop. I can’t pretend anymore that I don’t want to be more than just a friend to you. I can’t lie to myself like that. And... I thought maybe you felt something, too. Maybe—

**ALEX:**

(cuts him off, voice tight)

No, Sam. You’re wrong. I— I don’t feel that way. I never have. We’ve been through so much together, but that’s not the same thing. This is... it’s not—

**SAM:**

(stands up abruptly, voice cracking)

Then why—? Why are we always so close? Why does it feel like you care when you— when you *do* things for me, or when you’re just there? It’s like—

**ALEX:**

(stands quickly, catching his arm)

Stop. Just... stop. Please.

**SAM:**

(silently pulls his arm away)

You don’t get it. I thought maybe, just maybe, if I told you... if I said it out loud, you’d feel something, too. I was *hoping* you’d feel something, too.

**ALEX:**

(voice shaking now, but trying to hold it together)

Sam, it’s not that simple. You don’t know what you’re asking. You don’t know what this—what this could mean.

**SAM:**

(takes a deep breath, pacing)

I just needed you to know, okay? I needed you to know how I feel, even if it changes nothing. But there’s more— there’s more that I’ve been hiding, and I don’t think I can keep this secret from you any longer.

**ALEX:**

(stops, looking at him in confusion)

What are you talking about? What more?

**SAM:**

(voice low, full of regret)

I’ve— I’ve done something terrible. Something unforgivable.

**ALEX:**

(frowning, steps closer)

What? Sam, what are you—? What did you do?

**SAM:**

(looks at the ground, eyes wet)

It was a mistake. I—I never meant for it to happen, but... I hurt someone. Someone I shouldn’t have. And I didn’t just hurt them... I—I killed them.

**ALEX:**

(stares at him, stunned, disbelief in their eyes)

What? No— no, you’re not— you didn’t—

**SAM:**

(sobbing now, his voice cracking)

I did. I did. I didn’t mean to. It was an accident, but I didn’t stop it when I should’ve. I—I panicked. And now... now they’re dead, and I—I don’t know what to do.

**ALEX:**

(shaking their head, trying to process)

What... what do you mean you killed them? Sam, who? Who are you talking about?

**SAM:**

(voice barely a whisper)

Megan. It was Megan. I didn’t mean for it to go that far. We argued, and I— I lost control. I never meant to hurt her, I swear. But I did. And I’ve been covering it up ever since.

**ALEX:**

(stumbles back, unable to speak for a moment)

Megan... that— that’s... *that* is what you’ve been hiding? Oh my God, Sam, I—I don’t know what to say.

**SAM:**

(pleading, reaching out)

Alex, I need your help. I don’t know what to do. I can’t keep lying. I thought maybe... maybe if I told you, if I just told you the truth— maybe you could help me fix it, fix *me*. But now... I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.

**ALEX:**

(shaken, shaking their head slowly)

I... I don’t know. I don’t know what to say, Sam. You’re... you’re telling me you killed her? And you’ve been— you’ve been lying to everyone about it?

**SAM:**

(voice breaking)

I was scared, Alex. I was so scared. I thought I could get away with it, that it would just disappear. But it’s been eating me alive, and now... now I don’t know what to do.

**ALEX:**

(silently, quietly)

You... you need to turn yourself in, Sam. You need to tell someone. This isn’t something you can hide anymore.

**SAM:**

(eyes wide with panic)

No! No, please— I can’t. I can’t go to jail. I’ll lose everything. I’ll—

**ALEX:**

(steps back, voice cold)

You already lost everything, Sam. Megan’s dead. And this secret— this secret is killing you.

**SAM:**

(voice trembling, barely above a whisper)

I didn’t mean to— I swear to you, I didn’t mean to...

**ALEX:**

(softly)

But you did. And you can’t take it back.

**SAM:**

(looking at the ground, broken)

I know.

---

**End scene.**