S A R A H

A week passed. It's only Nayla going to the office now as I chose to work from home.

I stand at the edge of the balcony, the cool night air wrapping around me like a comforting blanket. The moon hangs high above, its pale light casting a soft glow on everything below. I find myself staring at it, as if it holds the answers I need.

I told myself I wouldn't let this happen. I told myself I wouldn't fall for someone like Noah. Someone who could break me. Someone who doesn't fit the world I built for myself, someone too dangerous for my heart. But as I stare at the moon, I can't help but feel the weight of my own feelings pressing against my chest, suffocating me.

The memories come rushing back, the way he kissed me, how he held me close, how it felt like he needed me just as much as I needed him. It feels so real, so alive in a way I can't ignore. But then, everything else hits me, the pain, the confusion, the fear.

I close my eyes, squeezing out the tears that threaten to spill, but they keep coming anyway. I can't stop them, no matter how hard I try.

I see him. Noah.

He's sitting at the side of the road, his figure dark against the pale light of the streetlamps. His gaze is locked on me, and for a moment, I freeze.

Why is he here? What is he doing?

I don't know how much time passes, but all of a sudden, I can't breathe, can't think. My feet move on their own, carrying me towards him before I can stop them. Before I even realize what I'm doing, I'm running. My heart is pounding in my chest, each beat louder than the last.

"Sarah!"

But I can't stop. I don't want to stop.

When I reach him, I throw myself into his arms without thinking. His warmth surrounds me. I don't care about anything else. I don't care that I told myself I couldn't do this.

I bury my face in his shoulder as he carries me by a hug, my hands gripping onto his shirt. I feel the tremor in my body, my breath uneven, and I realize I'm crying.

"I'm sorry," I whisper, my voice breaking. "I can't do this. I can't..."

Noah pulls me closer, his hands cupping my face, his touch gentle yet firm. He looks into my eyes, his gaze filled with something so raw and intense that it makes my chest ache.

"Don't apologize," he murmurs, his voice so low, so vulnerable. "Please don't say that. I promise it won't repeat, Sarah. I swear. I won't hurt you."

His words tear through me, breaking the fragile walls I've tried to build around myself. Everything I've been holding back, every ounce of fear, confusion, and longing comes rushing forward all at once.

My lips find his, and it's like everything else disappears. There's no past, no future, only this. Only him. His hands are in my hair, pulling me closer, as if he can't get enough of me. I feel his breath on my lips, hot and shaky, and it only makes me want more.

We kiss like it's the last time we'll ever see each other, like the world is ending and this moment is all we have left. Every inch of my body is alive, trembling with the intensity of the connection between us.

Under the moonlight, everything feels different. Raw. Real. We're both broken, both hurting in ways we can't fix, but in this moment, it doesn't matter. We're here, together, and that's all I can hold on to.

The kiss deepens, more frantic now, as if we're trying to tell each other everything we can't say with words. My hands are on his chest, feeling his heart beating just as fast as mine.

His body presses against mine, and I can feel the weight of his emotions, his need for me, as if it's all poured into this kiss. Just as quickly as it began, the kiss ends. I pull away, breathless, my chest heaving, my heart in my throat.

He looks at me with those intense eyes, his voice shaking when he speaks.

"Don't leave me, Sarah. Please."

The fear still lingers, gnawing at me. The fear of where this will lead. What this means. I'm too broken, too afraid to let myself fall completely.

"I'm scared, Noah," I whisper, my voice barely audible. "I'm scared of what this will do to me."

He kisses my forehead, his touch gentle now, as if he's trying to soothe the fear that's overtaking me.

"I won't let anything happen to you," he says softly. "I won't let you fall. Not alone."

And as he holds me, I can't help but believe him. I let myself believe.

Noah gently took my hand and led me upstairs to his room. The soft carpet under my feet feels almost surreal, like I'm walking in a dream. My heart is still racing, the sound of my own pulse ringing in my ears, and I can't seem to stop thinking about what just happened.

As we sit down on the edge of the bed, the weight of everything starts to hit me again. Ryza. The threats. The fear of what could happen if we don't stop her.

My mind spins with all the things we need to do, but somehow, it's hard to focus. My thoughts keep drifting back to Noah.

"I don't know how to stop her, Sarah," Noah says, his voice low and serious as he sits next to me. "But we have to figure it out. I can't let her hurt you again."

I nod, my mind fuzzy, as I try to process everything he's saying. My eyes keep fluttering, my body exhausted from the emotions of the day. The weight of everything is starting to take its toll.

Noah must notice, because he gently pulls me onto his lap. I'm not sure if it's intentional or if he just wants to comfort me, but it feels right.

His warmth surrounds me, and I lean into him, letting myself relax for the first time in what feels like forever. The sound of his heartbeat under my ear is so soothing, steady and calm, and it lulls me.

"Sarah," he whispers, his voice soft and protective, "you don't have to worry about anything. I won't let anything happen to you."

I want to answer him, to say something reassuring, but my body betrays me. My eyelids are heavy, my thoughts slipping away like sand through my fingers.

Before I can say another word, sleep takes over, and I find myself curling closer into him. He strokes my hair gently, his hands warm and comforting as they run through the strands.

"Sleep, Sarah. I'm right here," he murmurs softly.

I don't know when exactly I drift off, but the next thing I know, Noah is carefully lifting me off his lap. He moves slowly, gently, as if I'm made of glass, and I can feel the softness of the sheets beneath me as he tucks me in.

His presence is a constant comfort, his warmth still lingering on my skin. I close my eyes, the exhaustion from the day wrapping around me like a blanket.

Noah's gentle touch lingers in my mind, and even though I'm scared of what might come next, in this moment, I feel safe.

You're keep making a mistake, Sarah.