He kisses me then, soft and sweet under my porch light. When we break apart, I rest my forehead against his.
“Sawyer?”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For everything. For fighting for me when I couldn’t fight for myself. For making me feel like I matter. For showing me what it’s like to be with someone who actually cares about my safety and happiness.”
His hands cup my face gently. “Alice, you changed my life. Before you, I was just going through the motions. You made me remember what it feels like to have something worth protecting.”
My eyes get watery. “You made me remember what it feels like to be protected.”
I adjust my glasses to wipe my eyes.
“You are protected. Always. No matter what comes next, no matter what challenges we face, you’ll always be safe with me.”
The words wrap around me like a promise, like a vow. After years of feeling vulnerable and afraid, after months of looking over my shoulder, I finally understand what security feels like.
It feels like this. Like him. Like us.
“I love you, Sergeant Edwards.”
“I love you too, Alicat. Always.”
As I watch him drive away, I realize that for the first time in my adult life, I'm not afraid of tomorrow. My chest feels lighter than it has in years. I'm not afraid of anything.
Not of Lance. Not of my mother. Not of being alone. Not anymore.
I go inside and lock my new deadbolt behind me, but for the first time, it’s not because I’m scared. It’s just habit now.
As I get ready for bed, I think about everything that’s brought us to this moment. Lance is in prison where he belongs. Tracy is facing charges for her crimes. The investigation is over. Sawyer got his promotion.
And I have someone who loves me, someone who makes me feel protected and valued and cherished.
I climb into bed and pull out my phone to text him goodnight.
Me: Thank you for tonight. I love you.
His response comes immediately.
Sawyer: I love you too. Sweet dreams, Alicat.
Me: Sweet dreams, Sergeant Edwards.
I set my phone aside and pull the covers up to my chin. For so long, I lived in fear. Fear of Lance, fear of my mother’s disapproval, fear of not being believed, fear of being alone.
But I’m not afraid anymore.
My phone buzzes one more time.
Sawyer: You’ll always be safe with me.
I smile in the darkness, typing back the words that sum up everything I feel, everything we’ve built together, everything I know to be true.
Me: I know I’ll always be safe with you.
