the darkness falls around me at night
"Oh—" I start, frowning at myself as his smile slips and something subtle shifts in his posture. It's nothing big. Just the turn of his head, the way his jaw tightens. But I’ve seen that kind of quiet recoil before, most often in my father. It’s enough to make my stomach twist.
"I didn’t mean—" I exhale, brushing a hand through my hair, suddenly painfully aware of how things must’ve sounded. "I wasn’t saying it was a bad decision. Just the opposite, actually. I think it was a good one. A brave one."
I glance over at him, a little more cautious now, trying not to trample the moment any further. "I get why people don’t. Why they’re afraid. But I don’t think that’s a reason not to try. I don’t believe in letting the rotten parts win either."
My voice softens, losing its usual edge. "I know this world’s awful sometimes. I’ve seen it. But I’ve also seen a lot of things worth fighting for. A lot of people who make it worth it."
The wind picks up again, tugging at my hair, and I glance forward, letting silence sit for a beat before I murmur, "Sorry. I say things without thinking sometimes. You probably noticed." I try to offer a smile, smaller this time. A little less sure of itself.
"I didn’t mean—" I exhale, brushing a hand through my hair, suddenly painfully aware of how things must’ve sounded. "I wasn’t saying it was a bad decision. Just the opposite, actually. I think it was a good one. A brave one."
I glance over at him, a little more cautious now, trying not to trample the moment any further. "I get why people don’t. Why they’re afraid. But I don’t think that’s a reason not to try. I don’t believe in letting the rotten parts win either."
My voice softens, losing its usual edge. "I know this world’s awful sometimes. I’ve seen it. But I’ve also seen a lot of things worth fighting for. A lot of people who make it worth it."
The wind picks up again, tugging at my hair, and I glance forward, letting silence sit for a beat before I murmur, "Sorry. I say things without thinking sometimes. You probably noticed." I try to offer a smile, smaller this time. A little less sure of itself.
Theea
and covers me in silence so bright
