Zephany stood quiet for a moment, eyes on the lake that shimmered faintly under the warm string lights. The soft rustling of leaves and the faint music from the fairgrounds seemed distant now, like the world had taken a step back to let the silence between them grow.
Kendrick shifted slightly beside her. He hadn't expected her to answer right away, but now that the pause stretched, his nerves began to stir.
Then she finally spoke, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I'm scared."
He turned to her gently. "Of what?"
Zephany took a breath, one hand tightening its grip around the penguin plush pressed against her side.
"I'm scared that I might get used to this," she said slowly, like she was pulling the words out one by one. "To you. To this... feeling. This warmth. Like I belong somewhere again. And then just lose it."
Kendrick didn't say anything. He just looked at her, giving her the space to keep going.
