VIRUS

TWENTY SIX

Chapter Twenty-Six: Admission

The snow-covered landscape outside the cabin looked like a winter wonderland, serene and untouched. Holden and Dawn had decided to take advantage of the crisp air and snowy scenery by sitting outside. They had bundled up in warm coats and scarves, but the cold didn't seem to bother them as they nestled together on a snowy blanket.

Holden leaned back against a tree, his breath creating small clouds in the frosty air. Dawn sat close to him, her gaze focused on the snow-covered mountains in the distance. They had spent the day working on various tasks around the cabin and had finally found a quiet moment to themselves.

Dawn broke the silence, her voice soft and inquisitive. "Holden, can I ask you something? About your past..."

Holden turned to look at her, his expression relaxed. "Sure, what's up?"

Dawn hesitated for a moment before continuing. "I've been wondering... why did you used to sleep around so much? You've mentioned it before, but I've never really understood why."

Holden shrugged, a nonchalant smile playing on his lips. "I don't know. I guess it was just a way to cope with things. I was always looking for something to fill the void, you know? And it was easy. Just something to do when I felt lost."

Dawn nodded, her eyes searching his face for more insight. "But why? Why did you feel like you needed to do that?"

Holden thought for a moment before replying. "It was mostly about feeling wanted, I guess. It was like a temporary fix for feeling empty. I thought it was just a way to deal with everything going on in my life."

Dawn's brow furrowed slightly, and she looked away, her gaze falling on the snow-covered ground. "How many people have you... been with?"

Holden didn't think much of it as he answered casually. "I don't know, probably a dozen or so. It was never really a big deal to me. Just something that happened."

The words hit Dawn like a sudden gust of wind. Her heart sank, and she felt a sharp pang of hurt. She had imagined Holden's past differently, perhaps more romanticized or less... quantifiable. The thought of him with so many others left her feeling exposed and vulnerable.

She took a deep breath, trying to mask her emotions. "Oh. That's... more than I expected."

Holden's relaxed demeanor shifted to one of concern as he noticed the change in Dawn's expression. "Hey, what's wrong? I didn't mean to upset you. It's not like it matters now."

Dawn's voice was barely above a whisper. "It's just... I didn't realize it was that many. I'm not just another number, am I?.."

Holden's eyes widened in realization, and he reached out to touch her arm gently. "No, that's not what I meant at all. I'm sorry if it came across that way. It's not about the numbers, it's about what I've done to try to feel better. You're different. You mean more to me than that."

Dawn's breath hitched as she hesitantly nodded her head. "I hope so."

Holden held her tightly, his voice full of sincerity. "I promise you, you're not a number or a statistic. Everything I did before doesn't mean anything compared to how I feel about you now. You're my girl, and no one else has ever gotten that title."

Dawn leaned against his chest, taking comfort in his embrace. "Thank you for saying that.."

Holden gently lifted her chin so he could look into her eyes. "I'm here for you, always. We're in this together, and I wouldn't trade what we have for anything."

As the snow continued to fall around them, the quiet moments between them were filled with a deeper understanding and connection. Despite the cold, they found warmth in each other, their bond growing stronger in the face of the harsh realities of their world.