Before love Lies
Her lips pressed against mine—sudden, certain, grounding.
When she pulled back, her forehead rested against mine.
“Whatever happens, John,” she whispered, steady and unafraid, “I will always love you.”
For the first time since all of this began, the noise in my head quieted.
Sam didn’t speak.
He didn’t need to.
Tomorrow would come whether we were ready or not—and when it did, the game would truly begin.