"Brent—" Elisha began, but he gently cut her off.
"I know, Ish. I know it’s not easy to move on, to love someone new when you’re still holding onto someone else." He gave her a small, sad smile and took her hand, pressing it to his chest, where his heart beat steadily beneath her fingers. "But that’s not a big deal for me. You don’t have to love me back. I just want you to know that there’s someone who loves you without expecting anything in return—and that’s me."
Elisha’s lips parted to say something, but Brent held up a finger, brushing it gently against her lips. "Shh," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the gentle hum of the ocean. "You don’t have to worry about me. I’ll stay by your side until he returns, even if it hurts." He let out a quiet sigh, his thumb tracing soft ci
