THE MOMENT

ANNA

I sit on the edge of the bed, staring at my hands, my mind spinning. The argument with Damien earlier today feels like a lifetime ago, but the anger still lingers, heavy and raw. I feel hurt and stupid not just because of what he said, but because of what it all means.

The door creaks open, and I glance up to see Damien standing there, his shoulders slumped, his face a mix of exhaustion and something else. Something I haven’t seen in him before—vulnerability. He doesn’t look angry anymore. Just... lost.

“Hey,” he says softly, closing the door behind him. His voice is tentative like he’s unsure if I’ll even respond.

“Hey,” I reply, just as softly. There’s a long pause as we stare at each other, the silence heavy between us.

He steps closer, running a hand through his hair, the familiar gesture calming me somehow. “Can we talk?”

I nod, though my stomach knots up at the thought of what’s coming next. We’ve been arguing or fighting, for what feels like forever, but nothing seems to g