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~Damon's POV
"Lisa… can I hug you?" I thought she was going to say no. Her face was unreadable. She hesitated, her lips parting like she wanted to refuse. My heart stopped. But then, after what felt like forever, she nodded slowly.
"Yes," she whispered.
I felt my shoulders drop with relief. Carefully, gently, I stepped closer and wrapped my arms around her. I didn't hold her too tight. I just wanted her to feel safe, nothing more. I could feel how tense she was at first, her body stiff in my arms, but after a moment, she let out a shaky breath and leaned into me, just a little.
"Thank you," I murmured against her hair. My throat ached with the weight of everything I couldn't say. "I just… I needed you to know you're not alone. Not anymore."
She didn't answer, but she didn't push me away either. That was enough.
After a while, I loosened my arms and stepped back. "I'll let you rest," I told her softly. "You need sleep. We'll talk tomorrow, okay?"
