Awakened
I sat back, staring at her in absolute, unadulterated admiration.
She was bruised, she was bleeding from wounds that ran years deep, but she was entirely unbroken. Her defiance wasn't just survival, it was a force of nature. She was a phoenix standing in the middle of her own ashes, ready to set the world on fire.
Without a word, I leaned forward, closing the distance between us. I reached out, my broad, warm hand gently cupping the side of her face, my thumb wiping away the remaining moisture on her cheek.