nce heavy with unspoken thoughts-each one tangled, hesitant, afraid of being voiced. Streetlights flickered on one by on

. He wanted to say something-anything-but every sentence he rehearsed in his mind sounded flat, inad

nction where Benita usua

oice soft yet steady, carrying the w

words failin

ked at him, tracing the lines of regret, confusion, and something broken he

e said finally. "Even if it d

ed hard. "I'm

dgment, she held no judgment, no accusation, just

fragile honesty. "I just t

punish. But they landed hard, pressing against

wly. "Yeah. I

that carried understanding without expectation. "I do

ly, as though afraid she mi

ly. "But sometimes... i

ce for a few quiet moment

ight,

ight,

il she disappeared into the quiet street, the ache in his chest

one buzzed on the bedside table, and his heart jumped before his mind

tact: I saw

new exactly who it was.

tact: You l

mber again-but he didn't need to. Every word carried her voice

dn't

nt and torturous, befor

s it? You move

mixture of anger, exhaustion, and clarity. This time, the pain did

ped s

ove on fast. I ju

the quiet in the room to grow heav

ake, James. Don't I

those words might have shattered h

t mean access. I forgive

or the first time, he didn't wait for a reply. For the firs

s. He laughed with Ben. He ate, slept, lived-an imitation of normalcy at first, but slowly, subtl

f distance, but out of respect for his space. And that

e on the campus steps, staring at nothing, caug

t something," Ben observed, sl

oulders slumping.

os

head. "No. He

. "That's

use of it," James admitted so

. "Or you might lose her because you'r

s closing briefly. "I

id simply. "Heal first. I

through the window onto her notebook. Headphones draped over her ears, she was f

" she

ftly. He didn't sit

, a quiet

a few seconds, the air between them g

es began, voice low, care

ted her he

nd

e the racing in his chest. "I wasn't ready. And I

s of her lips tugging into somethin

t to disappear either. I want to heal properly. And when

slowly, considering him,

steady, unwavering. "Not the broken parts. Not the

he promised. "Eve

ent, then smiled-a real,

e said, soft but resolute

tling over him, spreading slowly

healing. And maybe... just maybe... that was the beginning of something st