Over the next few weeks, things began to change. Their relationship grew more serious, but not in a way that felt forced. Riley had always been a skeptic when it came to love—she never thought it could be easy or simple. But with Zayden, it was different. Every moment with him felt like a new possibility. They spent time together, getting to know each other in ways that made Riley open up in a way she hadn't before.
And yet, despite everything, there was still something she wasn't ready to confront—the weight of her own insecurities. There were still pieces of herself that she kept hidden, pieces she wasn't sure she could share with anyone.
But Zayden was patient. He didn't push, didn't demand. He simply stayed by her side, giving her the time she needed to come to terms with everything. Slowly, the pieces of her past that had been locked away began to surface, and Zayden was there to help her carry them.
One evening, as they sat under the stars, Riley turned to him, her voice uncertain. "I don't know what the future holds, Zayden. But I know this: I've never felt this way before. And I'm scared."
Zayden took her hand in his, lifting it to his lips in a soft kiss. "Scared isn't a bad thing, Riley. It means you're alive. It means you care."
And for the first time, Riley let herself believe him.