21 - Jairus' dark past

Jairus' POV:

I couldn't believe I had confessed my feelings to her. It felt so foolish how I stumbled over my own words out of nervousness. But there was something different about this girl that made me hesitate, something that made my feelings for her more genuine than any I'd felt before.

I didn't want to lose her, not now or ever. I knew about her past, and I accepted her for who she was because I understood the pain she had endured. There were reasons beyond that, of course – her innocence, her pure heart, and her unwavering commitment to the truth, no matter what.

She was unlike any other woman I had ever met, and I had fallen in love with her. Her past didn't matter to me; I was ready to stand by her side no matter what dark secrets she might have, just as I had my own.

And now, sitting in the parlour with her, I felt at ease. The place was nice, with posters of various ice cream flavors on the wall, and the ice cream itself was rich and tempting. As we chatted comfortably, I fe