Chapter 5
she leads me to the couch on shaky legs, her small hand still wrapped around mine like she’s afraid to let go completely. the lamp in the corner throws warm light across her face, cheeks still flushed, glasses slightly askew, hair messy from earlier. she stops in front of the cushions, turns to me slowly, eyes down at first then flicking up shy and uncertain.
“ethan…” her voice comes out tiny, almost a whisper. “i… i don’t know if we should keep going but… um… maybe just a little more? just to… to make sure everything’s okay?”
the words are so timid, so hesitant, like she’s still the nervous teacher trying to talk herself out of it. but her hands are already moving. she reaches for the hem of my shirt, tugs it up slow, fingers trembling as she pulls it over my head. once
