Love and Fear

Jacob stood outside Grace's door, his heart pounding with nervous anticipation. He raised his hand and knocked softly, hoping for a response.

"Grace?" he called out, his voice barely above a whisper. "Can I come in?"

Silence greeted him, and his stomach churned with apprehension. He tried the doorknob, relieved to find that it wasn't locked. Taking a deep breath, he pushed the door open and stepped inside.

The room was dimly lit, the curtains drawn shut against the outside world. Jacob's gaze fell upon Grace, who sat on the edge of the bed, her shoulders hunched and her hands folded in her lap.

"Grace," he began tentatively, his voice breaking the silence. "I... I wanted to talk to you."

Still, Grace remained silent, her eyes fixed on a point in the distance. Jacob hesitated, uncertainty gnawing at him. What if she didn't want to see him? What if she refused to talk to him?