As the movie reached its climax, I could feel the tears building behind my eyes, the emotions I had been holding back all day threatening to spill over. I bit my lip, trying to keep it together, but it was a losing battle. The more I tried to suppress the feelings, the more they fought to break free.
Karim must have sensed the change in me, because he paused the movie, the screen freezing on a scene that should have been filled with joy and hope. He turned to me, his expression softening as he reached out to gently cup my cheek.
"Princess," he said, his voice a low, soothing murmur. "Talk to me. Please."
The tears spilled over, and I couldn't stop them. I turned away, ashamed of my weakness, of the fear that had been consuming me for days. But Karim wouldn't let me hide. He gently guided my face back to him, his thumb brushing away the tears as they fell.
