Published October 10, 2026
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142,337 Literary Works • 677,277 Reviews
Singing audio & original post
Plot description-
A studious guy (Aiden) has agreed to tutor the academically struggling quarterback (Felix) in history for extra credit. But when sparks fly between them, what shall become of their fate? Enjoy this tender queer romance with graphics and original songs added herein!
This is a flashback (filler arc), and converges with arc I towards the end. Includes spoiler, reader is advised to go through the story in the correct sequence for best interpretation of the plot and maximal self enjoyment.
Read the uncut version of the story here: Breaking Bloom (Arc II- Aiden's melancholy)
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Prequel: Looking for you (Arc I- Aiden's melancholy)- NaPo month thread, 2026
Hi Alex! I've been looking forward to reviewing the next song in your collection all day and now I finally have time to sit down and review!
This is my personal favourite so far. I think the line 'to love me is to let you go' is brilliant, and an inversion of the more typical/expected line 'to love you is to let myself go', since it implies that he cannot love himself at the same time as loving Felix.
The second song was about being pulled in, with the moon and tides. This one is about pulling away, with the sun, sky and drowning. It's almost the opposite of the previous one; the moon’s gentle pull becomes the sun’s danger.
We start immediately in the deep end, where Aiden is 'drowning' in Felix's eyes. This balances a romantic and cute gesture, typical of romance books, with quite a dark image of literal drowning, with Aiden's arms reaching for the skies out of the water, trying not to drown. It presents the relationship as dangerous, deep water, a treacherous territory.
I am so intrigued by the line 'We were just inside my head' here, since it appears to suggest the relationship was partly imagined or perhaps projected- that it was just a fantasy in Aiden's head. Because it was in his head, there was no future, and he is leaving his love unsaid. 'Guess' makes it sound tentative rather than triumphant, as Aiden is simply settling into the choice rather than celebrating it, as 'Instead' implies he's giving something up: choosing themselves means not choosing the other person, which is obviously sad to him.
I think 'And all my love be left unsaid' isn't quite grammatically correct; perhaps 'And leave all of my love unsaid' or 'With all my love left unsaid'
The chorus is just so beautiful. It's quietly sad and 'Even if I'm scared to be alone' is so raw and honest, Aiden is really admitting his pitfalls. I like here, that unlike the beginning where Aiden says 'As I reach for the skies', here he says 'Shooting for the starlit skies' which evokes a totally different image to me. Before, it was someone trying not to drown; now, it is someone reaching for a goal, perhaps not wanting to let go of the dream?
This stanza draws parallels with the story of Icarus, and Aiden is likening himself to the tragic character who flew too close to the sun, who got too self-confident and that was his downfall. But what's interesting to me is that this is not in past tense, he says 'I get too close' which suggests that he is actively still doing this, and aware of it, that it's a character trait he cannot control. He's not cocky and self-assured, like Icarus, but he is just in love and thinks it cannot work out. I really love 'Oh honey, we can't be one / Or I would come undone' because it shows that if they were to unite, Aiden would lose a part of himself -- i'm not sure what this could be yet, but perhaps this queer relationship is not accepted in his community, or family, or he doesn't want to admit to it for fear of bullying etc -- and he's not ready for that.
I notice that the eye colour changed here again, from golden brown, gilded, and now amber. I think this builds the gold and sun motifs nicely and evokes the image of Felix's eyes changing colour as the sun highlights them.
The main thing that stood out to me here was 'tippy toes' which just seems a little childish for the rest of the tone. I think it could work if there were other illusions to Aiden feeling childish or younger than he is, or immature, at other points in the poem, but it just stuck out a little to me. What is the rose? Is it the relationship, safety, or an old version of the self? I guess I was a little stuck on the symbolism here!
Another great song/poem, Alex! <3
Thank you for another wonderful review, rev!
I see what you're saying about the grammar on 'love be left unsaid' but I guess I ought to leave it this way just because I've already sung it lol. 'Tippy toes' did land as childish as I hoped it would, I just wish I had expanded on it with some more similar metaphors. The rose is the love that Aiden holds for Felix, and he's crushing that here. About why they don't disclose their relationship, I'm as stumped as you are. Some resistance is natural, and their families would be far more accepting than most, I believe they're just dealing with their inner securities instead. The goal Aiden is seeking is actually his 'medical career' (self insert much?) and he fears he may be risking it if he surrenders to a feeling that affects him so much. He's never loved before and that would also means coming out, too many variables in the relatively simple and safe life he's lived so far. I hope that clears stuff up a little! Thanks again, have a good day <3
oo okay the medical career makes a lot of sense, even i personally know med students who have turned down relationships as they don't want to be distracted in their final years. That totally clears it up and makes it even more bittersweet! Poor aiden