PART 3 (THE TURN)

PART 3 (THE TURN)

One evening, about a month later—

the power went out.

The whole house fell into darkness.

I panicked for a second—

until I heard his voice from the other room.

“Stay where you are. I’ve got it.”

A few minutes later, a small candle flickered to life between us.

We sat across from each other in the dim glow.

For the first time…

really looking.

And that’s when I saw it.

Not the limp.

Not the awkwardness.

But the way he looked at me.

Careful.

Gentle.

Like I was something breakable…

and worth protecting.

“You don’t have to stay,” he said suddenly.

My breath caught.

“I meant what I said,” he continued.
“If you find someone you truly love… I won’t stand in your way.”

For the first time—

that idea didn’t feel like freedom.

It felt like loss.

And that scared me more than anything.

“Michael…” I whispered.

He looked up.

And for once—

I didn’t look away.

“What if…” I said slowly,
“…I stopped looking?”

Silence.

The kind that holds everything.

“What if,” I continued, my voice trembling,
“what I needed… was already here?”

He didn’t move.

Didn’t speak.

But his eyes—

filled with something I had never seen directed at me before.

Not desire.

Not possession.

But love.

Quiet.

Patient.

Certain.

And that night—

for the first time—

I wasn’t afraid of reaching for him.