Amara's back hit the wall softly, her breath catching in her throat. Her heart raced, her eyes wide, her mind spinning.
For a second, she couldn't move.
Then the shadow in front of her shifted — stepping into the light.
Her breath froze.
It was Adrian.
His expression was intense, confused, frustrated… and something else she couldn't name.
Before she could speak — before she could ask what he was doing — before she could even breathe properly —
He leaned in and kissed her.
Not rough. Not forceful. Just enough to stop her words. Just enough to silence her panic. Just enough to make her freeze.
Her hands pressed lightly against his chest, trying to push him away at first — startled, overwhelmed, confused.
But then…
She melted.
Her resistance softened. Her hands relaxed. Her eyes fluttered closed.
The kiss stayed gentle, warm, quiet — the kind that wasn't meant to overwhelm her, only to stop her from running away again.
When he finally pulled back, Amara gasped softly, trying to catch her breath.
Adrian rested his forehead against hers, their breaths mixing.
His voice was low. "Why are you ignoring me?"
She stayed quiet, her eyes dropping.
He didn't move.
He didn't step back.
He just stayed there, close enough that she could feel his warmth.
He lifted his head slightly, looking directly into her eyes. "Amara," he whispered, "why?"
Her eyes began to sting — tears gathering, threatening to fall.
Adrian's expression softened instantly.
He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a gentle hug. Not tight. Not overwhelming. Just enough to hold her together.
He kissed her forehead. Then her cheek. Then the bridge of her nose. Then her closed eyelids — soft, comforting, nothing more.
"Tell me," He murmured. "What happened?"
Amara swallowed, her voice stuck in her throat, her emotions tangled.
She didn't answer yet.
But Adrian wasn't letting her slip away this time.
Not until he understood.
Not until she told him why her eyes were full of tears.
Not until she told him why she walked away.
Not until she told him why she couldn't look at him.