Jake held Grace gently arm, ignoring the sharp pain in his ribs as she clung to him desperately.
Her body trembled against his, warm tears soaking into his neck and chest.
"I'm sorry… I scared you," he whispered hoarsely, his voice rough from pain and blood loss.
He slowly stroked her golden hair, letting the familiar softness ground him.
"But I'm still here and I'm not leaving you."
Grace shook her head, refusing to let go.
She didn't say anything for a long time.
She simply held him tighter, burying her face deeper into the crook of his neck as if trying to merge their bodies together.
Her warm tears continued to fall silently onto his skin, each one heavy with the terror she had just endured.
Jake could feel her trembling... not just from crying, but from the sheer relief of having him alive in her arms.
The silence between them was heavy, intimate, and full of unspoken emotions.
