TOO LATE TO HIDE
254 Words
“You’re hurt.”
His voice softened slightly, but the tension was still there.
“I said I’m fine,” I replied, though my body said otherwise.
He stepped closer.
Too close.
Before I could react, his hand reached out, lightly touching my arm.
I flinched.
Not from pain.
From the sudden closeness.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
“You’re lying.”
“I’m not—”
“Stop,” he cut in.
The word wasn’t loud.
But it was firm.
My chest tightened.
“I can take care of myself,” I said.
“I know,” he replied.
That caught me off guard.
“Then why are you acting like this?” I asked.
He didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, his gaze dropped briefly to my stomach.
Then back to my eyes.
“Because you’re not alone anymore.”
The words lingered between us.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
I looked away first.
“I didn’t ask for this,” I said quietly.
“I know.”
“Then why does it feel like I don’t have a choice?”
Silence.
Then—
“You don’t.”
My head snapped up.
“What?”
His expression didn’t change.
“You don’t get to put yourself in danger,” he said. “Not anymore.”
Anger flared inside me.
“I’m not something you can control—”
“I’m not trying to control you,” he said.
“Then what is this?” I demanded.
For a moment…
He hesitated.
And that scared me more than anything.
- Writer
