CHAPTER 6 – THE FIRST CONFESSION

Aurora was talking continuously about love...

her ideal relationship, her dreams, the kind of person she’d want to spend her life with. I listened, silent, my hands clenched under the table.

She didn’t realize how hard it was for me to hear all this.

Because I already knew she wasn’t imagining me in that picture.

She deserved the best, and I... well, I wasn’t even close to that.

But still, I watched her. I took in the way her eyes sparkled when she spoke, how her fingers absentmindedly played with the hem of her sleeve.

how she laughed so easily, unaware of the darkness sitting across from her.

On the surface, I looked fine. No one could see the bruises blooming across my back, the pain that burned with every step..

My father had made sure to keep his violence hidden... no marks on my face, nothing visible.

Aurora had stopped the bullying at college. She had made people leave me alone. But the real monster in my life was still lurking behind closed doors.

And no one...

not even Aurora...

could see that....

That evening, she showed up with a container in her hands, smiling shyly.

“I made this for you,” she said, holding it out.

I blinked at her, confused.

“For me?”

She nodded...

“It’s my first time cooking. I tried twice, but both times it burned. The third time, I finally got it right.”

I stared at the container in my hands. The warmth of it.

The warmth of her words.

No one had ever done this for me. No one had ever cared enough.

“Try it,” she urged...

I picked up a spoon, hesitating for just a moment before taking a bite.

It was a little too salty, but it didn’t matter.

Because this... this was the best thing I had ever tasted.

“Well?” she asked, watching me expectantly.

I swallowed and smirked. “Do you think I’ll survive after eating this?”

She gasped and smacked my arm.

“You’re so mean!”

I laughed... an actual, real laugh. The sound of it startled even me.

She pouted, crossing her arms...

“Fine, I won’t cook for you again.”

“No, no,” I said quickly.

“I didn’t say it was bad.”

She raised an eyebrow...

“So you liked it?”

I looked at her, the only light in my miserable life. The only person who made me feel human.

And before I could stop myself, the words slipped out.

“I love you.”

Silence.

Aurora blinked...

“What?”

My heart pounded violently, but I didn’t take it back.

“I love you, Aurora.” My voice was steady.

“I have for a long time.”

She looked at me, her lips parting as if searching for the right words.

I already knew what she was going to say.

I already knew she didn’t feel the same.

But I didn’t care.

Because I didn’t just love her.

I needed her...

TO BE CONTINUED...

Do you think she will accept his confession?

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