Ophelia stiffened at the unexpected embrace, her heart pounding with a mixture of confusion and longing. She had hoped for solitude, yet Leonard's presence offered a comfort she couldn't deny.
"Leonard..." she began, her voice barely a whisper as she struggled to find the right words.
But before she could continue, he spoke, his voice soft yet filled with urgency.
"I'm sorry, Ophelia. I can't let you go like this," he murmured, his arms tightening around her as if afraid she might slip away at any moment.
Ophelia felt a lump form in her throat at his words, the walls she had built around her heart crumbling in the face of his vulnerability.
"Please don't leave me," he begged as he buried his head on her neck while still hugging her from behind.
Ophelia didn't know what to do. She stayed standing still, letting Leonard hug her, when suddenly she felt her neck become damp.
