Getting Over Him

Air

Pat's P.O.V:

I take in a few deep breaths, and exhale until I can feel all of the air leave my lungs.

I can do this. I just have to tell Pran that we have to pack up and leave again...

As I keep trying to reassure myself in my mind, a voice makes my head look up to a deep pool of dark brown eyes. That smile that was on his face just yesterday is replaced by a frown, and down-turned lips. His dimples are not popping out of happiness, but it's clear that he's upset...

"Pat?"

"Yeah?"

"Is what I heard coming from Paa's voice true?"

His voice sounds sad.

I don't know how to give him the devastating news, but I can't just leave him without the answer that he already knows.

My voice cracks as I try to explain, "Pran... it's true. They know, they'll also be on the lookout for us."

Pran's frown deepens, and his eyes narrow. For a moment, I think he's going to yell, but instead, he steps closer, his voice low and steady. "No. We're not running again, Pat. We'll just keep running again until forever if this cycle keeps on repeating itself. We're finally together... I'm not letting them keep us apart, and I don't want to keep living in fear." His hand reaches for mine, and his grip is firm, almost desperate. "We'll figure something out. Together."

I want to believe him. I want to believe that we can stay, that we can fight, that we can finally stop living under our parents' influence. But the fear in my chest is a heavy, suffocating weight. "Pran," I say, my voice trembling, "they're not just watching us. They're closing in. If we don't leave now, we might not get another chance."

His jaw tightens, and I can see the conflict in his eyes. He's always been the stubborn one, the one who refuses to back down, even when the odds are stacked against us. But this time, it's different. This time, the stakes are higher than ever. "I'm tired," he says, his voice breaking. "I'm tired of living in fear, of living in hiding. I just finally started to express my true self, Pat. And I just finally got to be with you.."

I reach up and cup his face in my hands, forcing him to look at me. "I don't want to lose them either," I say, my voice barely above a whisper. "But I can't lose you. If staying means risking you, then I'll run a thousand more times. I'll run forever if it means keeping you safe."

For a moment, he doesn't say anything. He just stares at me, his dark eyes searching mine. Then, he lets out a shaky breath and leans his forehead against mine. "You're such an idiot," he murmurs, but there's no anger in his voice, only affection. "You don't get it, do you? I'd rather risk everything than lose you too."

My heart aches at his words, and I pull him closer, holding him as tightly as I can. "Then we'll stay," I say, even though every instinct is screaming at me to run. "If it really comes down to it, we will demand to have our names taken off from the family registry. Let's stay together no matter what it takes."

Pran nods, his lips curling into a small, determined smile. "Deal," he says. "But if we're doing this, we're doing it together. No secrets, no lies. Promise me, Pat."

"I promise," I say, and for the first time in what feels like forever, I feel a flicker of hope. It's small, fragile, but it's there. And as long as we have each other, maybe, just maybe, we can make it through this.