Chapter 61 Kisses And Hope

• Winter had come and gone, leaving behind the softness of spring. The air was warmer now, the days a little longer, and everything outside seemed to be slowly waking up again. Just like her. It had been months since the accidentlong, slow months filled with pain, progress, and quiet moments of reflection. Her body had healed little by little. The heavy cast that once weighed down her arm was gone, now only a faint, thin scar remained, barely noticeable unless you were looking for it.
• The dark bruises that once marked her face had faded completely, and she could move without flinching now, without that sharp ache reminding her of what she’d been through. On the outside, she looked fine strong, even. But the pain inside was different. It lingered. The hurt she carried in her heart hadn’t faded like the bruises had. It was still there, a silent gap between her and the one person who had stayed with her through it all. The man who had never left her side even when she started to pull away from him.
• Leo had become a quiet, constant presence in her life. He hadn't pushed her for forgiveness, or demanded that she explain her feelings, and he hadn't made any big declarations of love. Instead, he had just been there. He brought her books he thought she might like, sat with her in silence for hours, and carefully learned all of her little signals the slight tensing of her shoulders when he got too close, the way she would turn her head away when he looked at her for too long. He was a caretaker, not a lover. He was a man on a silent vigil, hoping desperately for even the smallest sign that he hadn't lost her forever.