“Yes.”
The word comes without hesitation.
Because I do.
I understand the danger.
The uncertainty.
The fact that this—
Whatever this is between us—
Will never be safe.
Never be simple.
And still—
I don’t pull away.
His thumb shifts slightly against my hand.
A small movement.
But it says everything.
“I meant what I said,” he tells me.
My breath catches.
I don’t make him repeat it.
I don’t need to.
“I know,” I whisper.
And for the first time since this all started—
I’m not afraid of that.
Outside the room, footsteps rush past.
Voices rise again.
The chaos isn’t over.
Not yet.
But in here—
In this moment—
Something settles.
Something certain.
And I hold onto it.
