ELI
I woke up on my bed not in Damir's study like I usually did. And that fact alone hit harder than expected.
The sheets were still warm from my sleep, but the cold ache inside me was deeper. It was the kind of ache that came from knowing something beautiful had cracked. My arms reached instinctively to the side, expecting the comforting presence of Damir, the weight of his arm around me, his steady warmth only to find air.
Empty air.
I sat up slowly, letting the early morning light spill across the room in golden streaks, warming my bare skin but not the loneliness clinging to it. The silence around me was too loud. It echoed with everything unsaid from yesterday, every scream, every insult, every accusation, and every unanswered question.
I rubbed my hands over my face, trying to shake it all off. But it clung to me like smoke.
I couldn't do this anymore.
Without thinking too hard, I got up and made my way toward the guest room. My feet were cold against the tiles, my breath shallow as I paused in front of the door.
Just knock. Just breathe. Just… try.
I raised my hand and tapped lightly. No answer.
Another tap, and then, finally, the door creaked open. Lian was sitting on the edge of the bed, hands twisted together on his lap, as if he too hadn't slept at all.
He looked up at me.
His eyes were tired. But there was no hatred in them. Only guilt. And something like shame.
"Can I come in?" I asked softly.
He nodded. "Yeah."
I stepped in and closed the door behind me. The air between us was thick with tension, but softer than the night before. Still wounded but not bleeding.
"I'm sorry," we said at the same time.
A startled laugh broke from both of us, though mine came out more like a breath. I sat beside him, not too close, not too far.
"I shouldn't have accused you like that," I began, voice quiet. "It's just… after everything, and how you wouldn't tell me the truth, I felt so shut out."
Lian sighed, looking down at his hands. "And I shouldn't have yelled. I was angry, but that's no excuse. I said things I didn't mean. Things I can't take back."
There was a pause. A heavy one.
"Did you…?" I started, not wanting to finish the question.
He looked up, expression pained. "No. I didn't sleep with your dad."
I stared at him, eyes searching. He didn't look away.
"But…" he admitted, eyes glinting with truth, "some things did happen. We kissed. It wasn't supposed to, and it didn't last. We were both just… lonely. And confused. It meant nothing. And it never went further than that. I swear."
I exhaled slowly. The ache inside me shifted still there, but no longer sharp.
"Why didn't you just say that?….i…mean you would have my blessings"
"Because it was already a mess. And I didn't want to hurt you more."
"You did anyway."
"I know."
We sat in silence for a while, then Lian reached out and touched my hand lightly. I didn't pull away.
"We're idiots," I said with a soft laugh.
"The worst kind," he replied, squeezing my fingers.
But we were healing.