Real Life

~ SASHA ~

Zev didn't stop trembling, and Sasha couldn't breathe—in the most beautiful way.

They lay together, watching each other, barely speaking for the longest time. As their breathing slowly returned to normal and heartrates eased, as the sheen of sweat dried on his forehead, they stared.

Sasha stroked his chest, but her hand kept returning to the center, pressed flat, feeling his great heart thump against her palm—in perfect time with her own. As if he was an echo of her. As if their very bloodstream was linked.

She swallowed, so many questions bubbling to the surface, but she was reluctant to break the perfect silence.

Then she blinked.

You can hear me? she asked tentatively in her head.

He nodded.

Sasha had to bite back tears of joy. What does this mean? For us, I mean? What will this do to us?

I don't know, he replied honestly. Except that it means—I hope it means—I'll never lose you again.