silence between Leo and Elara. Leo drove to a quiet place uphill the city. T

ittle above a whisper, but filled wi

fear and doubt she'd carried this past month? All of these were going through

e murmured, finally lift

t you to feel

ed, his brow furrowi

. Did you think I wouldn

fluttered at his words,

elong there. I can hardly ke

ing a hand on her shoulder, steadying

Elara. Let me be a part of this

Leo's warmth, but a part of her still held back, b

eo. I need more than just promises.

face, but he nodded, with so

a chance to prove my words to you. Let me love yo

rself to control. But her doubts were louder, bothering her about

t around them. Finally, she spoke, "Leo, I need to do

a way to hers, ho

a complication. You're-" he paused, cho

u all my life. And now that I've found

ould notice it. It was the

e," he added, his voi

ly, the reality of her situation crept back in. She unlocked her hand from his, fo

way, as though struggling to deal

the time you need.

is still struggling with her decision. She kept herself busy wi

d and how much she poured into he

her doorbell rang. She froze, a feeling s

to find Leo standing there, holding a

e looked less put-together as if

, his voice barely above a whisper. "You

wanted to resist, but something inside her sn

rward and embraced him, holding hi

ces of their lives that they had kept hidden. In a few hours, they got to connect ag

as been a long time since

a long while, Elara

just maybe, they could make things

et Leo for a gallery event, her phone buzzed. As

grainy shot of her and Leo at

nly one in Leo's life. Stay away from

he text was about. Who could send this? She looked around, feel

die, suddenly surged back to life.

ld wasn't a safe one; she just hadn'

ing to let anyone intimidate her. But she also couldn't risk

ally saw him, the warmth in her eyes was g

d quietly, "we