[ZAYN]
I sat there, heart pounding, waiting for Pearl's response. The silence felt like an eternity. I had laid my heart bare, and now, everything depended on her next words.
Yet, the heaviness in my chest was undeniable.
"Zayn," she finally whispered, her voice trembling slightly, "I’m really touched by everything you’ve said. You're an amazing person, and I’m grateful for everything. But… I'm not ready for a commitment right now."
Her words sliced through me like a knife. I felt my heart shatter into a thousand pieces. I struggled to keep my composure, but the pain was evident in my eyes. I felt my hands grow cold, and tremble slightly as I held hers. My knuckles white with tension.
"Pearl, I..." I stammered, my voice barely audible. "What would it take for you to be ready?"
She lo
