I set my coffee down and cross to her, taking her face in my hands."I see you, Carla.And I see a woman who's been through hell and came out the other side.A woman who's stronger than she thinks.A woman who deserves better than what she got."
Her eyes shine."Timothy."
"I'm going to protect you.I'm going to make sure he never touches you again.You understand?"
"You keep saying that."
"Because I mean it."
"Why?Why do you care so much?"
Because the second I saw you, something in me recognized something in you.I've been sleepwalking through life for six months, and you woke me up.
But I don't say any of that.It's too much.Too soon.
Instead, I kiss her.Long and deep.Trying to show her what I can't put into words yet.
When I pull back, she's breathless.
"Come on," I say."Let's make breakfast.And then we're going to sit down and come up with a real plan."
"A real plan."
"Yeah.Not just hiding.Not just reacting.A plan to end this."
She nods, and I see the first flicker of hope in her eyes.
We make breakfast together.Eggs and toast.Nothing fancy.But standing in the kitchen with her, handing her the spatula, watching her move around my space like she belongs there, feels right.
More than right.
It feels like this is what I've been missing.Not just a woman.This woman.In my space.In my life.
She laughs at something I say, and the sound is like sunlight breaking through clouds.I want to hear it again.Want to make her laugh every day for the rest of my life.
We eat at the counter, our knees touching, and I can't stop looking at her.The way she bites her lip when she's thinking.The way she tucks her hair behind her ear.The way she relaxes, bit by bit, the longer we're together.
This is who she was before Randall.Before the fear and the running.And I want to give that back to her.
"What?"she asks, catching me staring.
"Nothing.Just thinking."
"About?"
"You."
She rolls her eyes, but she's smiling."That's not an answer."
"I'm thinking about how I'm going to keep you."
The smile fades."Timothy."
"I'm serious.I know this is fast.But I'm not letting you go."
"You can't just decide that."
"I already did."
