A heavy silence settled between them, so thick it was almost suffocating. The only sound Sophie could hear was the rhythm of their breathing, slow and unsteady.
"No, Shane," she said finally, her voice soft but resolute. The weight of his question hung in the air, and as her answer reached him, she could almost hear the breath of relief he let out, one that he hadn't even realized he'd been holding.
"Why?" he asked, the word barely a whisper. There was a sense of disbelief in his tone, as if he couldn't fathom why she'd choose to stay despite the shadows of his past.
Sophie's heart ached for him, knowing just how deep his insecurities ran. He had been through so much, and trust didn't come easily for him. She smiled, though it was tinged with sadness, knowing that he was still learning to believe in her love for him. "I told you, we're one," she reminded him, her voice tender. "You need to trust me, Shane. Trust that I'm not going anywhere."
