The silence between us stretched, thick with the weight of the question I had just asked. My heart raced in my chest, each beat echoing louder in my ears as I waited for Zaya to respond.
Her eyes were fixed on our joined hands, her thumb slowly brushing against my skin, almost like she was trying to ground herself.
I couldn't read her expression. There was hesitation no, more than hesitation. She looked deep in thought, like she was weighing everything, every possibility, every consequence.
I wanted to reach out and say something, to fill the silence with reassurance or encouragement, but I knew it wasn't the time. This moment was hers as much as it was mine.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Zaya lifted her head to look at me. Her gaze was intense, searching mine for something. What, I wasn't sure. Perhaps some sign that I wasn't just caught up in a fleeting desire.
