My hand shook as I finally lowered the hankie. The fabric slipped through my fingers, falling against my side. I didn’t even know why I’d been holding it so tightly anymore-as if it could protect me from him. From this.
He said nothing. He just watched. I could feel the weight of his stare move across me, sharp and unblinking, tracing every small movement I made. The silence between us was almost unbearable. I wanted to turn away, to find something-anything-to look at other than him. But I couldn’t. So I lifted my chin instead, even though every part of me was trembling inside.
“There,” I whispered, the word catching on my breath. “Now you can see whatever it is you wanted.” It came out brave than I felt . My heart pounded so hard it hurt, but I didn’t look away.
He took in a slow breat
