“The silence. The way you look at everyone like they’re trying to steal the sun from the sky.”
Under the amber glow of the festival lights, they moved together—not out of obligation or possession, but because the music was too beautiful to stand still. “The silence
“You’re doing it again,” Elena whispered, pulling him aside into the quiet of an arched stone walkway. “Doing what?” Andrei replied, though his jaw was tight. “Doing what
As the music transitioned into a more upbeat rhythm from the , Andrei felt the tension break. He realized that his fear was a distorted tribute to her importance in his life. He didn’t need to guard her; he just needed to cherish her. He didn’t need to guard her; he just needed to cherish her
Elena reached out, her fingers tracing the line of his hand. “Love isn’t a cage, Andrei. It’s the door being wide open and choosing to stay anyway. That song... it says jealousy is part of the package, but it shouldn’t be the whole gift.”