Madison's face materialized before me—the curve of her lips, the way she listened without judgment. She deserved more. She deserved more than what I could give.
I turned to look out the window behind me and Joe followed. We silently watched the bustling city beneath us for a moment or two before he spoke up again. “Sometimes we make choices out of fear," he said, his tone solemn and heavy. I almost turned to him in concern, it was so rare for Joe to be this serious about something. “Whether it's fear of hurting others or fear of being hurt ourselves, it has a way of keeping us turned away from the light without us wanting to admit it."
“What are you trying to say to me, Joe?" I asked, feeling like I was barely holding my frustration at bay. I glared at him, but mostly because his words h
