The days turned into weeks, and with each passing moment, Sara found herself immersed in a whirlwind of emotions. Her visits with Kotis became the highlight of her week, a precious escape from her mundane routine. Each letter exchanged was like a lifeline, tethering them together despite the prison walls that separated them.
Sara often caught herself daydreaming at work, her mind drifting to the memories of their conversations. She replayed the sound of his laughter, the way his eyes sparkled with mischief when he spoke about his dreams of freedom. But alongside that warmth, a lingering fear gnawed at her—what if their love was not enough to overcome the obstacles ahead?
One rainy afternoon, as she sat in her favorite corner of the library, the phone in her pocket buzzed. It was a message from Kotis, and her heart raced. She opened it eagerly.
Kotis: "Hey, Sara. I need to tell you something important. Can you come tomorrow?"
Her stomach twisted with a mix of excitement and anxiety. What could be so urgent? She quickly typed a response, her fingers trembling.
Sara: "Of course. I'll be there."
The night felt interminable, each tick of the clock amplifying her worries. What could he possibly want to discuss? Was it about his past? Or perhaps a decision he had to make regarding his future? As she tossed and turned, sleep eluded her, leaving her with the heavy weight of uncertainty.
The next day, she arrived at the prison early, her heart pounding as she navigated through security. The familiar sterile scent of the visitation room filled her nostrils, but today, it felt different—charged with tension. When Kotis walked in, his expression was serious, his usual warmth replaced by an intensity that made her stomach churn.
"Hey," he said, sitting down, his hands clasped tightly together.
"Hey, what's going on?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
Kotis took a deep breath, looking down at the table. "I've been thinking a lot about us… about everything. And there's something I haven't told you."
Sara's heart raced. "What do you mean?"
He looked up, meeting her gaze with an intensity that sent chills down her spine. "I didn't just end up in here by accident. I made choices—bad ones. And I don't want to drag you into my mess."
"What mess?" she pressed, her voice rising slightly. "You're not dragging me into anything. I want to be here for you."
His eyes softened, but the weight of his words pressed heavily in the air. "I'm not who you think I am, Sara. I've done things I'm not proud of—things that could change how you feel about me."
Sara felt a chill run through her. "You think I would judge you? We all have our pasts, Kotis. It's who you are now that matters."
"But I'm still that person," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I was involved with some serious stuff—gangs, drugs… It's a part of me I can't escape just because I'm in here now."
Her chest tightened. She had heard rumors, but she had chosen to ignore them, to see beyond the label of "convict." "Kotis, everyone makes mistakes. It doesn't define you. You're more than your past."
He shook his head, a pained expression crossing his features. "You don't understand. I'm not just a criminal—I'm a liability. If I get out, there are people who won't let me go that easily. I don't want to put you in danger."
"Danger?" Sara felt a mix of anger and concern. "You think I'm afraid of a little danger? I'm here because I care about you. I want to understand you, all of you."
Kotis looked away, his jaw tight. "I don't want you to be hurt because of me. You deserve better than a life tied to someone like me."
Sara leaned forward, frustration bubbling within her. "And what if I choose to be here? What if I want to take that risk? You don't get to decide what's best for me."
A silence fell between them, thick with unspoken words. Kotis's gaze softened, and for a moment, Sara saw the flicker of hope in his eyes. "I don't want to lose you," he admitted, his voice trembling.
"You won't lose me," she promised, reaching across the table to grasp his hand. "But you need to trust me. You need to let me in."
As their fingers intertwined, a warmth spread through her, filling the space that the walls had threatened to confine. In that moment, Sara realized that love was not about perfection or escaping the past; it was about facing it together, no matter