Opening old wounds

Nora stood there, her eyes wide, her heart pounding in her chest. Alex's confession hung in the air between them, heavy and suffocating.

She opened her mouth, but no words came out. She was at a loss for what to say, what to do. She felt like she was frozen, paralyzed by the weight of the moment.

Alex watched her, his expression a mixture of vulnerability and fear. "Say something," he whispered, his voice low and pleading.

Nora's lips parted, but no sound came out. She was speechless, her mind spinning with thoughts and feelings that were too jumbled to express.

Alex took a step towards her, his hand reaching out to touch her cheek. "It's okay if you can't say it back," he murmured, his eyes searching her face. "I just needed you to know."

Nora's breath caught in her throat, her heart fluttering in her chest. She closed her eyes, her hands coming up to cover his.