"You did good last night.Don't let guilt eat at you.He got what he deserved."
I want to believe him.Want to let go of the weight.But it's still there.Sitting heavy on my chest.
We head to the kitchen, where we find Enya with Chloe, Ailbhe, and Caoimhe.They're talking quietly.Enya's got a mug of tea.She's smiling at something Chloe said.
She looks lighter, safer, like being around them helps.
I watch from the doorway.Not interrupting.Just observing.
Chloe notices me first and smiles."Morning, Tank.You look like shite."
"Feel like shite."
Enya looks over.Sees me.Her whole face softens."You alright?"
"Yeah.Just talking to Pyro."
She nods, understanding without me having to explain.
Ailbhe pours me coffee."Eat something, love.You look like you need it."
I take the coffee and the toast Caoimhe pushes toward me and sit beside Enya at the small table.
She reaches over, taking my hand under the table.Just holds it.
Grounding each other.
After a while, she says quietly, "I think we should go back to the flat."
I tense."You sure?"
"No.But I don't want to be scared of my own home.Don't want to let him take that from me too."
"Okay.We'll go whenever you're ready."
"Now.I want to go now.Before I lose my nerve."
I nod and stand."Let me get our stuff."
The drive back to her flat is quiet.Tense.Enya sits beside me, hands folded in her lap, staring out the window.
I keep glancing at her, making sure she's okay.Making sure she's not spiraling.
But she's holding it together.Barely.But holding.
My own thoughts are loud.Intrusive.
What if she regrets this?What if she looks at me in a few days and sees a killer instead of a protector?What if I'm not good enough for her?For Warren?
What if I fuck this up?
I can't voice any of it.Can't burden her with my doubts when she's carrying enough of her own.
So I just drive.Keep one hand on the wheel, the other on her thigh.Grounding her.Letting her know I'm here.
We pull up outside her building.She stares at it for a long moment.
"I can't believe he was right there," she whispers."Right outside my door."
