LEILA
.
.
I stayed there for a long moment, clinging to him, as the chopper faded into the distance.
My breath hitched on a ragged sob, the single word of thanks a tiny, inadequate thing against the enormity of the relief washing over me.
He just held me, his arms a solid, unyielding anchor in the chaos.
I didn’t look up, just buried my face deeper in his clothes, the scent of him something clean and sharp, but still a little of sweat , like the cool night air, a sudden, profound comfort.
Eventually, the tremor in my body began to subside, replaced by a bone-deep exhaustion that settled into my very core.
He shifted slightly, his grip loosening just enough for me to know the moment was passing, that reality was asserting itself again.
I pulled back, slowly, reluctantly, wipin
