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Medium close-up of the man on the porch steps, turned toward the woman on his left. Her shoulder barely visible on the left edge. Overcast coastal afternoon. Seconds 1-3: he is silent. His eyes hold on her face on the left. He swallows. Wind pushes hair across his forehead. Camera drifts forward in a barely perceptible slow push-in — tightening from medium close-up toward close-up across the whole clip. Seconds 3-5: he looks down at his hands. A breath. Then back up at her. He starts speaking — rough, halting, honest. He stops mid-sentence, frustrated with himself. Shakes his head once. Camera continues its slow push-in, arriving closer to his face as the emotion builds. Seconds 6-8: he tries again, quieter. The words come simple and real. He finishes and holds her gaze. His mouth closes. His eyes stay on her. Camera settles into a close-up, holding. On the left edge her shoulder shifts — she reacted. He notices. Something softens behind his eyes. Hold. THE MAN says, looking at the woman on his left: "I'm not gonna pretend I don't—" Stops. Looks down. Shakes head. Back up at her. Quieter: "Look. I don't know what you're running from. I don't need to." Pause, steady: "But I'm here. And I'm not going anywhere." AUDIO: his voice close, rough, low, natural outdoor sound. Wind constant. His breathing between false starts. Porch creaking as she shifts. Waves distant. No music. Diegetic only.