Their First Kiss

Sophia Thomas was finally home.

The hospital had released her with a long list of instructions — rest, no strenuous activity, and a follow-up appointment in two weeks.

But she didn't care about the rules.

She only cared about one thing.

She was out of that sterile room.

Out of that bed.

And finally, finally back in the world where Daniel Harper existed.

They walked home together under a sky painted in soft blues and purples, the last light of the sun fading behind the hills.

She was quiet, still adjusting to the world outside the hospital.

Daniel stayed close — not touching, but there.

Just like he had promised.

And just like her roommates had said — he was the one who belonged by her side.

As they reached her dorm, she stopped at the steps, looking up at the building like it was a place she had forgotten.

"You okay?" Daniel asked.

She nodded. "Yeah. Just… tired."

He studied her face — the way her eyes were still soft with exhaustion, the way she leaned slightly against the railing like she wasn't quite steady yet.

"You don't have to pretend," he said gently. "You've been through something big."

She looked at him — really looked.

"I don't feel broken," she whispered. "Just… changed."

He smiled faintly. "Maybe that's not a bad thing."

She tilted her head. "And what about you?"

He blinked. "What about me?"

She took a step closer. "Have you changed too?"

He didn't answer right away.

Instead, he looked at her — at the way the moonlight caught on her face, at how she stood there like she had always belonged in front of him.

And for the first time, he didn't hold back.

He reached for her hand.

"I think I have," he admitted.

She met his eyes. "How?"

He exhaled. "I stopped pretending you were just Nathan's little sister."

She swallowed hard.

"And now?" she asked.

He took a slow step forward.

"Now I see you," he said. "The woman you've become. The one I was too blind to see before."

She didn't move.

Didn't speak.

Just let his words settle over her like a promise.

And then he leaned in.

Slowly.

Softly.

And kissed her.

Not with urgency.

Not with hesitation.

But with everything he had been holding back for years.

His lips brushed against hers — warm, gentle, full of everything he hadn't said out loud.

And she didn't pull away.

She didn't flinch.

She just kissed him back — careful, quiet, like she had waited for this her whole life.

And maybe she had.

The kiss didn't last long.

But it didn't need to.

Because in that moment, standing beneath the moonlight and the quiet hum of the night, everything changed.

Daniel pulled back slowly, his hands still resting on her waist.

She looked up at him — eyes wide, heart racing.

He gave her a small, breathless smile. "I've wanted to do that for a long time."

She bit her lip. "Then why didn't you?"

He ran a hand through his hair. "Because I was scared."

She tilted her head. "Of me?"

"Of what I felt," he admitted. "Of how much you mattered."

She looked down.

He added, "But I can't keep pretending I don't love you."

Her breath caught.

He continued, voice soft. "I do. I've always loved you."

She looked at him — really looked — and whispered, "You didn't have to wait until now."

"I know," he said. "I just… didn't know how to stop hurting you."

She gave him a small smile. "You didn't. Not really."

He frowned. "You were in a hospital bed for a day."

She shook her head. "I was there because I ran after something I couldn't control."

He looked at her — steady, serious.

"I should've been there to stop you."

She touched his arm. "You're here now."

He met her eyes.

And said, "That's not going to change."

Back in her dorm room, Sophia sat on the edge of her bed, replaying the kiss in her head like it was a movie she had watched a hundred times.

Zara walked in quietly, raising an eyebrow.

"You look like you've seen a ghost."

Sophia smiled faintly. "Better than a ghost."

Zara dropped onto the other bed. "He finally kissed you."

Sophia blinked. "How did you know?"

Zara smirked. "Because you're smiling like you've been holding your breath for years."

Sophia looked down at her hands.

Then whispered, "He said he loved me."

Zara didn't tease.

Didn't laugh.

She just said, "Took him long enough."

Sophia laughed softly.

Then added, "He said he's loved me longer than he realized."

Zara gave her a long look.

"And now that he's said it?"

Sophia met her eyes.

"I think I finally believe it."