My Fiancé's Uncle is Obsessed With Me!
I focused on the physical sensations, grounding myself in the present, in this moment, in the fact that despite everything, I was still here, still breathing, still capable of being held.
"I don't feel safe," I admitted, the words barely audible. "In the world. In my life. I don't feel safe anywhere."
His eyes darkened, something fierce moving through them. "I know."
"But I feel safe with you." The confession came out rushed, desperate, like I needed to say it before I lost the courage. "I hate that I need you. I hate that I can't do this alone. But when you're here, when you're holding me—I can breathe. I can imagine a future that isn't just... damage control."