CHAPTER 10:The Burden Of Darkness

The night air was still, the faint crackle of waves in the distance the only sound as Ethan began to spin his tale. Sophia perched opposite him, hand placed lightly on top of his, its presence a wordless encouragement.

"I was in a relationship a few years back," Ethan said slowly, a little tentatively. "Her name was Rachel. She was everything I thought I wanted: smart, pretty, adventurous. I thought we were building something real, something lasting for three years."

She could see pain flickering in his eyes as he spoke. She held his hand tightly, her wordless presence, a support.

"But Rachel had demons of her own," Ethan went on. "She was... complicated. Originally, the signs were lost on me. She would be secretive at times, but I attributed it to her being independent. I had no reason to think she had a life I wasn't aware of."

"What kind of life?" Sophia asked gently.

Ethan's jaw tightened. "She was connected to some dangerous people. She never told me the full story, but I began to see strange things — calls she made sure not to take in front of me, packages that arrived at the house and that were never explained. And then one day... everything fell apart."

He stopped, staring off into the distance, as if he were remembering.

"She had debts," Ethan said, his voice faltering slightly. "A lot of money. She had been in debt before we ever met, and the people she owed were not the type to be very patient or understanding."

Sophia's breath hitched as she pictured how dangerous Rachel was for Ethan's world.

"One night, I came home late from work," Ethan said, his voice quavering slightly. "The house was ransacked. Furniture upended, glass shattered. And then... I was attacked."

Sophia's heart clenched. "Ethan..."

"They had been waiting for me," he added. "Two men. They didn't care who I was, what I had to say. They hit me until I couldn't stand, asking me where Rachel was, where the money was."

Ethan glanced down at his hands, his voice low now. "I thought I was going to die, Sophia. They left me there, wounded, shattered. By the time I called for help, Rachel was gone. She never came back."

Tears were filling Sophia's eyes, and she reached up to cup his face. "I'm so sorry, Ethan. You didn't deserve that."

Ethan leaned into her touch, his eyes searching her own. "Afterwards I just couldn't trust anybody. I closed myself off. I invested all of my energy into work, into building this resort up, because it was the only thing I was in control of. But I have not let anyone get close since."

Sophia's heart ached for him. She could tell how badly the experience had scarred him, how it had formed the walls he had put up around himself.

"I don't know why I'm sharing all this with you," Ethan said, his voice trembling. "But there's something about you, Sophia. You make me feel... safe. As in, maybe I can stop being so defensive again."

Sophia fought back tears, her voice even despite the raging feelings within her. "Ethan, you're not alone in carrying this anymore. I'm here. I'm going to be here as long as you guys need me."

Ethan smirked, relieved to finally say it out loud. "You don't know how much that means to me, Sophia. Thank you."

After several moments, as she continued to stare blankly out whatsoever, the nearby inky blue waves rolling, unsure whether this that is better or worse, Sophia turns and blinked in bottom had in his eyes. But just when she allowed herself to be hopeful, something in Ethan's eyes — a flicker of fear, a shadow of doubt — caught her attention.

"What is it?" she asked, her voice gentle.

Ethan paused, looking down at the sand. "I'm afraid, Sophia. Sounds like you are scared I'll pull you down with me, that my history will bring you down like it brought me down."

Sophia shook her head, extending the vowel sound in her firm tone. "Ethan, I'm not afraid of your past. What matters is the you that you are today, the you sitting in front of me. And I'm not going anywhere."

Ethan gazed at her through teary eyes. "You're amazing, you know that?"

Sophia smiled softly. "You're worth it, Ethan."

After years, Ethan experienced a glimmer of hope. As he pulled Sophia into a soft embrace, he felt that perhaps, just perhaps, he did not have to face his demons alone any longer.

But as the stars twinkled silently above them, Sophia couldn't ignore that she was sure Ethan's story wasn't finished. There were still shadows in the corners of his life, secrets that could destroy everything they'd built together.

What would happen w

hen those shadows surfaced in the light?

Only time would tell.