his love for me. I was taken aback by his sudden confession, and my mind raced with a flurry of

ay," I stammered, my voice

hurt in his eyes. "What's the matter? Don't you feel th

ly. "It's just...I don't know

ed by a sense of dejection. I didn't want to hurt him, but I cou

aid softly, trying to reassure

sappointment. "Okay. I understand," he

ts. The weight of his disappointment hung heavily in the air, and I couldn't help b

e. I knew that I had let him down, and the thought weighed heavily on my mind. Every

it seemed as though the air had grown thicker.B

pained me to see him suffer because of it. As we sat there in silenc

speak. "Can I ask you something?" I

, looking up at me wit

fless act of donating blood for my son. I couldn't help but feel i

ed with appreciation. "I'm grateful for what you did, but

th sincerity. "I don't expect anything from you, Ava. I did it be

but feel touched by his kindness. I smiled, f

ed with gratitude. "I just wanted

ne with a gentle intensity. "We ar

lpable energy that crackled in the air. I couldn't help but feel draw

wordless conversation passing between us. I could feel

. "Can I at least take y

a sense of relie

d he grinned at me. "Gre

sense of hope. Maybe things woul

and and even took a weekend tri

o say those thr

at the door. "Who's there?" I called out, trying to shake off the grogginess that linge

y who had disappeared from my life after the night we had shared together leaving m

ing from his every pore. His heart was pounding so loudly that I could almost

nder why he had come back into my life after all these years. Had he been searching for me? Did

ad, the slight quiver in his voice, even the way his hands shook ever so slightly.

ad to stay strong. I couldn't let him see how much his unexpected reappearance had affected me.

. A wave of emotions washed over me - surprise, confusion, and most of all, pain. I co

orm in my throat. My heart felt heavy with hurt, a

o say, his voice ba