Tethered in the Dark - A Love Story

A Moment to Stay

As we lay back on the blanket, the last light of the sunset painting the lake in streaks of gold and rose. Kade’s arm rested under me, the other tucked behind his head. My hands lay softly at my sides, fingers brushing against the soft weave of the blanket, and for a while, we just breathed, listening to the water’s gentle lapping. The sky above shifted slowly, pinks deepening into purples, the first stars just beginning to glimmer.

Then Kade’s voice cut through the calm, soft but deliberate. “Talia… what if I haven’t been fully honest about who I am?”

I lifted one brow, pretending to scoff. “I always knew you’d be a kidnapper.”

He flicked my nose, smirking. “No… but what if I am someone different from what you know?”

I laughed, though there was a catch in my throat. “What do you mean?”

Kade shifted, rolling onto his side so he faced me, green eyes fixed on mine. “Talia… you are my best friend, and I want you to know everything about me. You’re eighteen now. You could leave the orphanage, find a job… move. What about finding a job in my… pa…city?”

I blinked, heart stuttering in an unfamiliar rhythm. My chest tightened with equal parts excitement and fear. “I… I’d love to, but moving is expensive. I don’t have much. Everything I earn goes to the orphanage—the headmistress keeps most of it. I barely have pennies left for necessities. And I… I don’t want to take money from you, Kade. You’ve already done too much for me.”

He reached out, letting his hand brush mine, steady and reassuring. “Why don’t you stay at mine? I’ll help you find a job.”

I sat up slightly, panic prickling at the edges of my calm. “No… I’d be a burden to your family. How could I do that?”

Kade leaned closer, a faint smile tugging at his lips, teasing but serious. “You wouldn’t be a burden. I mean it, Talia. I want to help.”

I swallowed hard, staring down at my hands. The thought of moving into his world—leaving the orphanage, leaving the life I’d known—was exhilarating and terrifying all at once. My throat felt tight, my stomach fluttered with a nervous mix of hope and guilt.

“I… I need some time to think about it,” I said softly.

Kade nodded, not pushing, just letting his gaze linger on me, steady and patient. Then, gently, he slid one hand around my waist, pulling me slightly closer. His other hand lifted my face, fingertips brushing along my cheek as he tucked a stray lock of hair behind my ear. “Take all the time you need,” he said, voice low and firm. “I’ll wait. But promise me you’ll think about it seriously.”

I nodded, heart still hammering, my mind spinning with what-ifs. I started to shift away slightly, feeling the swirl of emotions inside me, but Kade’s hand at my waist held me steady, grounding me.

“Hey, Talia,” he said softly, his thumb brushing my cheek as he lifted my face to meet his gaze. He held me there, eyes searching mine. “You know how you said you haven’t been able to do anything for me?”

“Mhmmm,” I murmured, unsure what he meant.

“Well… as a thank you, I just want you to stay like this for a while.”

Before I could react, he lifted me as if I weighed nothing and gently sat me on his lap. His arms wrapped around me from behind, warm and steady. “Just stay and watch the sunset with me.”

“Is… everything okay, Kade?” I asked, my hands resting lightly on his. “You seem very serious.”

He grew quiet, staring at the horizon as if lost in thought. The soft pink and gold of the sunset reflected in his eyes, making him seem distant, yet tethered to me at the same time.

“You know I’ll be here no matter what,” I said softly, squeezing his hands lightly. “You’re my best friend.”

He turned his head just enough to glance at me, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “I’m your only friend, though.”

I chuckled, leaning back against him. “I guess that’s true… but regardless, I want you to know I’m here for you.”

For a long moment, we just sat there, the sun sinking lower, painting the lake in molten gold and violet shadows. My heart ached with gratitude and something else I didn’t yet name. And as Kade held me close, warm and steady, I realized that whatever secrets he carried, whatever truths he had yet to share, I wanted to be here through it all—with him, watching the sunset, and letting this quiet, tethered closeness exist just for us.

As Kade’s wish, I stayed in his arms, letting myself settle against him. We watched the last traces of sunlight slip below the horizon, the lake reflecting soft shades of violet and amber. The air had cooled slightly, and the quiet around us felt infinite.

When the sun finally disappeared, leaving the sky darkening with early stars, I shifted slightly, readying myself to get up.

“A bit longer, please,” Kade murmured, his voice low, warm against my ear.

I hesitated, glancing at the deepening sky. “Kade… I should probably head back soon” My words faltered under the weight of worry of missing my curfew.

But then I thought of everything he’d done for me—the lunches, the feasts, the way he always watched out for me—and my chest tightened. How could I say no? How could I break the quiet trust we’d just shared?

If the headmistress punished me for staying out late, so be it. I would endure it. I would endure anything for him.

I leaned back against him again, letting myself melt into the warmth of his arms. “Okay… a little longer,” I whispered.

Kade’s grip tightened slightly, and I felt the steady rise and fall of his chest beneath my hands. Together, we watched the stars appear one by one, the night wrapping us in quiet intimacy.

Once it was properly dark and the moon hung fully in the sky, casting silver light across the lake, Kade finally sighed and said, “I guess I should let you go now.”

We got up together, stretching a little, and I carefully packed the basket and folded the blanket, making sure everything was as we had left it. The forest around us was quiet, the shadows long and soft under the moonlight, and I felt a bittersweet tug in my chest at leaving this perfect moment behind.

The walk back to the car was harder than I expected. My mind was still tangled in the events of the evening, the conversation with Kade, and the weight of all the emotions I had yet to sort out. My feet kept catching on hidden roots and twigs, and each stumble made my cheeks burn.

Kade, on the other hand, seemed untouchable, moving through the forest like the path was laid out perfectly for him. His steps were sure and graceful, as if he could see everything with sharp clarity even in the moonlight.

By the third time I tripped over a stray branch, I muttered a frustrated groan, and Kade let out a soft chuckle. “Clumsy pants,” he teased, shaking his head.

Before I could protest, he swooped me up effortlessly, holding me bridal style. “I think this is safer,” he said with a smirk, carrying me toward the car. My heart fluttered, half from embarrassment, half from the intimacy of being held like this.

The ride back was quiet. I stared out the window, lost in my own thoughts, replaying every word Kade had said, every glance, every touch. Worry and curiosity intertwined in my chest—wondering what secrets he hadn’t told me, how I might fit into his world, and how much I was willing to risk for him.

Kade drove steadily, the car’s headlights cutting through the dark road ahead, but he seemed almost unaware of my silence.