Ethan's apartment felt like a sanctuary after the chaos of the past few days. The warm lighting and soft furnishings wrapped around me like a cozy blanket. As I settled onto his couch, I let out a deep breath, feeling the weight of the world begin to lift.
Ethan walked into the room, his brow slightly furrowed as he took in my expression. "Are you okay?" he asked, concern lacing his voice.
"I'm just trying to wrap my head around everything," I admitted, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. "It feels surreal."
He nodded, moving closer and taking a seat beside me. "I can't even imagine how you must feel. After what happened… I'd rather be overly cautious than risk this again."
"Ethan," I started, wanting to reassure him, but he held up a hand to stop me.
"Let me finish," he said, determination flooding his features. "I know you're strong, and I admire that about you, but this is different. We can't take any chances."
