Different Realm

"I'm pretty sure I'd be aware if I was getting married," I told Mr. Laforteza, still trying to wrap my head around his words.

A beat later, a disturbing thought occurred to me. "Unless you're planning to marry me off, and you're not, are you?"

"It's just for a period of time until I'm able to sort things out," he said, scratching his forehead with both his index and middle fingers as if struggling to maintain his composure.

His visibly unsettled demeanor sparked a flicker of worry within me, though I couldn't quite pinpoint why.

"If this is all you had to tell me, then let's not waste any more of each other's time," I said, reaching for my phone to end the timer, my gesture a clear indication that our meeting was at an end.

But before I could stop the timer, his hands shot out in a calm, yet urgent gesture, covering mine. 

"Hear me out," he said, his voice low and measured. A pause, and then he added, "Please."