Danielle's point of viewThe warmth of Michael's hand still lingered against mine as I sat in the quiet of my bedroom, the fire flickering low in the hearth. The silence felt different now—not sharp or cold, but suspended, like a breath waiting to be exhaled. I stared at the shadows dancing across the ceiling, replaying his words.You are more.It should have felt validating. It should have filled the spaces I had carved inside myself to survive. But instead, it unearthed something deeper, something I wasn't ready to name.The moonlight pooled across the floor, bathing the marble in silver. I stepped toward the window, pulling the curtain aside. The garden below was still, the roses trimmed, the hedges perfect. Too perfect.Just like everything else in this house.I heard him before I saw him. Michael's gait, deliberate and slow, the whisper of his shoes against the hall runner. I didn't move when the door opened.He paused at the threshold. For a moment, neither of us said a word."I
Last Updated : 2025-04-10 Read more