“Youareseen.” His voice is deep, low, soothing now. “And you’re safe. You don’t have to perform or apologize or shrink for me. I want all of you. Every version. Every mood. Every scar. I loveyou, Ava.”
Tears slip quietly down my cheeks—not sad ones. Not broken ones. Just the kind that comes when the war inside finally ends.
“I love you too,” I whisper. “So much, it terrifies me.”
“That’s okay.” He kisses my temple. “Love should scare you a little. But it should neverhurtyou. I’ll spend the rest of my life making sure you never confuse the two again.”
I don’t answer. I just curl deeper into him, my breathing evening out, eyelids growing heavier.
And when sleep finally takes me, it’s the softest thing I’ve ever known—wrapped in his arms, draped in his warmth, heart full and my mind is finally quiet.
***
When I wake, it’s already dark outside. I’m still curled up in Elijah’s arms, wrapped in a soft blanket. His hand moves slowly over my back, fingertips tracing soothing circles that calm the last traces of tension in my body.
The quiet hum of the city drifts through the window, but in here, it feels like time has paused. His steady breathing against my skin reminds me I’m safe—really safe.
I shift just enough to look up at him. His eyes catch the dim light, warm and watchful, and he smiles softly.
“Hey, baby,” he murmurs, his voice low and full of something fierce and tender.
“Hey,” I reply, voice barely above a whisper. I press a gentle kiss to his chest, feeling the steady beat beneath my lips.
He tightens his hold just a little, as if to remind me that this—this quiet closeness—is exactly where we’re meant to be.
***
Later that evening, after we’ve finally come down from everything, Elijah reaches into his pocket and pulls out a delicate bracelet.
“I wanted you to come see me, ” he says softly, fastening it gently around my wrist. “because I made this for you. This is yours, if you want it,” he says. “Not because you need to wear something to be mine, but because I know it helps you feel it. To remember that you’re never alone. That someone’s paying attention. That someone sees you. That I see you. And that I always will”
I look down at the charms—a dahlia with a small black stone, a tiny book, a coffee bean, and a miniature tattoo machine.
“They all mean something,” he tells me quietly. “The dahlia stands for strength and elegance and well it's your favoriteflower. The others, they’re little reminders of us. This isn’t just jewelry. This is your collar if you want. I’ll never make it about control. It’s about care. Devotion. A reminder that you don’t have to carry everything alone anymore.”
I trace my fingers over the charms, feeling a warmth spread through me.
“What about the black stone?” I ask.
Elijah smiles, “Just something special about the flower. It’s part of the charm.”
I nod, eyes lingering on the charms, heart full.
Before I can say anything, Elijah speaks, his voice low and sure.
“It’s for you,” he says softly. “A symbol of us… and everything we share.”
My gaze lifts to his, and I smile—small, genuine, a little overwhelmed. The bracelet feels heavier than it looks, like it carries more than just silver and charms.
Like it carries trust. Meaning. Him.
“Thank you, Daddy,” I whisper.
His thumb brushes over my wrist as he leans in, pressing a kiss to my temple.
“You’re welcome, baby girl,” he murmurs.
“Anything for you.”
