Chapter 36:Some Space Between Heartbeats

The clearing was silent again.

The man who had threatened Mira lay unconscious, tied and watched by Rehan, but for Aarav and Mira — the rest of the world had disappeared. All that remained was the sound of their breathing and the faint trembling in Mira's hands as Aarav held her close.

She hadn't spoken since he pulled the blindfold from her eyes. She had just clung to him, like letting go meant falling into something darker than fear.

"Mira," Aarav whispered, brushing the leaves from her hair, "say something. Please."

She finally looked up — her cheeks streaked with dirt and tears. "You came."

"Of course I did," he said, his voice breaking. "I would've burned the world to find you."

Her lips quivered, and she reached up, touching his face like she needed to memorize it all over again. "I thought I'd never hear your voice again."

He caught her hand and kissed her fingers. "You're safe now. I've got you."

But Mira shook her head. "No, Aarav… you don't understand. When he had me, when I was alone… the only thing I could think about was you. Your voice. Your hands. The way you always stay."

Aarav leaned in, forehead resting against hers. "You weren't alone. Not really. I was with you the whole time. Right here." He gently placed her hand over his heart. "You live here."

A soft sob escaped her lips. "I was so scared."

"And I'm so sorry," he whispered. "I should've never let you out of my sight."

"No," she whispered. "You trusted me. And that means more than you'll ever know."

A long pause passed between them. Then, her voice grew softer. "Can I ask you something… strange?"

He smiled faintly. "Anything."

"Would you describe me? Right now. What you see."

Aarav paused, eyes moving across her face, her bruised wrists, the curve of her lips, the damp strands of her hair caught against her cheek.

"You look like fire after rain," he said softly. "Like someone who's been through hell but still dares to glow."

Mira closed her eyes, breathing in his words like oxygen. "You always say the right thing."

"Only when it's you."

He brushed his thumb along her cheek. "Do you know what it did to me? Hearing your voice in the distance… not knowing if I was seconds too late?"

She nodded slowly. "I felt the same. Every second that passed, I imagined the worst."

And then, without thinking — because thinking was too slow and the heart too loud — Mira leaned in.

Their lips met with quiet desperation, a kiss born not from passion alone but from survival, fear, and the joy of still being here. It was slow, deep, filled with unspoken promises. Her hands moved up his shoulders, anchoring herself in the one place she trusted without question.

When they finally pulled apart, breathless, Mira whispered, "I don't want to be afraid anymore."

Aarav cupped her face, forehead to hers again. "Then don't. Just love me. That's all I'll ever ask."

And in the dying light of dusk, still holding each other in the broken ruins of a forgotten place, Mira and Aarav found something stronger than fear.

They found each other.