𝐹𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝑋𝑜𝑛𝑒

𝐿𝑋𝐼𝑉

"I just miss talking to you like this," she said, her voice soft but filled with an honesty that made my chest tighten.

"I miss it too," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "This has been the most fun I've had in a while."

She turned slightly, her eyes searching mine, the vulnerability in them catching me off guard. "I wanna be more than a fun time. I want to be with you for a long time. I'm beginning to see what my future would look like with you in it."

I lifted my head off her shoulder slightly, our faces now just inches apart. Her words hung in the air, heavy but full of promise. "Really? What does it look like?" I asked, my heart racing.

"Me putting you first," she said simply, her fingers combing gently through my hair. The tips of her fingers pressed softly against my scalp, massaging with an intimacy that sent shivers down my spine. "Without hesitation or second guesses."

I swallowed hard, my voice trembling as I admitted, "I wanna know what that feels like."

"To be put first?" she asked, her tone laced with understanding.

"Yeah, Janet. I wanna be first. And I want no more broken promises."

Her eyes softened, and she took a deep breath. "Sometimes promises are broken, and that's reality. I'm not going to say that every promise will be kept, but I'll try my best to make every one. Can that be enough?"

Her words settled over me, raw and honest. I hesitated, unsure whether I could trust again, but something in her voice made me want to believe. "It can be," I said cautiously, "maybe."

She nodded, her gaze unwavering. "I understand you still need time. Time isn't a problem, I've got all the time in the world for you."

The sincerity in her voice wrapped around me like a blanket, and for the first time in months, I felt a sense of safety I'd almost forgotten. I lifted her arm and draped it around me, snuggling into her side. It felt so natural, so right, like coming home after a long, exhausting journey.

We stayed silent for a while, the hum of the plane filling the space between us. The window to my left revealed a scattering of stars, their faint glow illuminating the inky night sky. Her fingertips began to caress my arm, tracing soft patterns that sent a cascade of chills through me.

The sensation was electrifying, a spark I hadn't felt in so long it was almost foreign. Her touch awakened something deep inside me, a part of myself I thought I'd buried. But I didn't want her to know that, not yet. I wasn't ready to let her see how much her presence still affected me.

So, I stayed still, letting her hold me, letting her touch ignite a quiet storm within me. The warmth of her body against mine, the rhythm of her breathing, it all felt so fragile and precious, like a truce we'd both silently agreed to honor, at least for tonight.

And in the stillness of that moment, high above the world, I allowed myself to hope again.

Eventually, the pilot brought us some snacks and water. I got up to use the bathroom and, when I came back, Janet was waiting for me, her arms open in invitation. I let her cuddle me again, her warmth lulling me into a peace I hadn't felt in ages. I don't even remember falling asleep, but I must have because the next thing I knew, I was waking up to the soft sound of her seatbelt unbuckling.

My eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the dim light. Janet glanced down at me, her expression soft. "We just landed," she said, her voice gentle as she reached out a hand to help me up.

The ride to the apartment was quiet but not awkward. She had, of course, arranged for a driver. What struck me most was her respect, how she didn't try to touch me or force anything, giving me the space I didn't even know I needed. I appreciated that more than I could express.