She: I don't think I'm ready.
He: For what?
She: This. You. All of it.
He: That's okay. She: It's not. I've kept you waiting.
He: You've kept me hoping. Different thing.
She looked away.
He turned her face back. Gently.
He: Hey. Eyes on me.
She: That's worse.
He: Why?
She: Because when I look at you I forget every reason I was scared.
He didn't move closer.
He just stayed. Right there.
She: Why aren't you pushing?
He: Because you're not a door to be forced open.
She: Most people get tired of waiting.
He: Most people weren't waiting for you.
Her hands trembled slightly. He covered them with his. Still. Warm.
She: What if I disappoint you?
He: What if you stop asking that and just let me love you?
She: Just like that? He: Just. Like. That.
She exhaled. Long. Like she'd been holding it for years.
She: Okay. He: Okay? She: Stay. Just... stay still with me for a minute.
He sat beside her. Shoulder to shoulder.
Neither spoke. Neither needed to.
She spent years bracing for people to leave. He spent one quiet night teaching her what it feels like when someone simply stays.
He: For what?
She: This. You. All of it.
He: That's okay. She: It's not. I've kept you waiting.
He: You've kept me hoping. Different thing.
She looked away.
He turned her face back. Gently.
He: Hey. Eyes on me.
She: That's worse.
He: Why?
She: Because when I look at you I forget every reason I was scared.
He didn't move closer.
He just stayed. Right there.
She: Why aren't you pushing?
He: Because you're not a door to be forced open.
She: Most people get tired of waiting.
He: Most people weren't waiting for you.
Her hands trembled slightly. He covered them with his. Still. Warm.
She: What if I disappoint you?
He: What if you stop asking that and just let me love you?
She: Just like that? He: Just. Like. That.
She exhaled. Long. Like she'd been holding it for years.
She: Okay. He: Okay? She: Stay. Just... stay still with me for a minute.
He sat beside her. Shoulder to shoulder.
Neither spoke. Neither needed to.
She spent years bracing for people to leave. He spent one quiet night teaching her what it feels like when someone simply stays.
