Mira stood there, her heart hammering in her chest, as Zamian's words washed over her. The word "love" echoed in her mind, lingering like a melody she couldn't quite remember, one that felt both foreign and intimately familiar. She had never heard him say it before, not once in all the years they had known each other. It was the first time he had ever used the word in reference to her. It felt strange, almost out of place, yet it was soothing—like the word had been crafted just for him, just for this moment.
Zamian's gaze was steady and intense as he noticed the stunned silence that had enveloped Mira. He could see the confusion, the wonder in her eyes, and it made the faintest smile tug at the corners of his lips. His voice, when he spoke, was velvet—low, intimate, as though meant only for her. His words carried a warmth, a tenderness, that made Mira feel as though the world outside had melted away.
