25 Years Ago
Wile held Gumamela’s hand tightly, his grip firm but trembling. His fingers curled around hers with an urgency she had never felt from him before, as if her presence was the only thing grounding him in that moment. The heat of his skin against hers was undeniable, a contrast to the cold sweat that clung to his palm.
She walked alongside him, trying to process the sudden shift. He had never clung to her like this—never shown this kind of vulnerability. She stole a sideways glance at him, noting the rigid lines of his jaw, the way his brow furrowed as if deep in thought. His chest rose and fell with uneven breaths, and despite the confident man he had proven himself to be in recent weeks, she could see it—something inside him had unraveled.
She gently tugged on his hand, urgi
