Sharing Secrets Late at Night

Evaline:

"Okay. When you are, I'm here," He said with a soft smile, one that was filled with warmth.

I looked at him, like really looked at him. Rowan wasn't like the others. He didn't carry the same edge or fire. He was calm. Steady. Kind in a quiet way that didn't make me feel judged.

"Thank you," I whispered.

"You want me to stay up for a bit?" he asked. "Or do you want space?"

"Just… stay. A little while."

He nodded again and shifted so he was sitting beside me, his shoulder barely touching mine. "You don't have to explain anything. Just breathe."

So I did.

I breathed.

In and out.

The room was still dim, and the only light spilling in was through the sliding glass door of the balcony.

The two of us sat in silence for a while, side by side on my bed. Not touching, not speaking. Just being. And strangely, that was enough.

Until it wasn't.