Safe Harbor in the Dark

The front door clicks shut, and the heavy silence of the apartment wraps around you. You lean your back against the door, dropping your bag onto the floor with a dull thud. Your body aches from weeks of non-stop work, but the bone-deep exhaustion you feel isn't just physical. Work has been your shield—a way to run from the quiet grief you've been carrying, and a way to prove you can handle everything without burdening the person you love most. ​Before you can even take off your shoes, soft footfalls sound against the hardwood. Ethan appears from the hallway, wrapped in a comfortable sweater, his warm eyes softening the moment he sees you. ​"Hey, sweetheart," he whispers gently, taking in your posture, the tired slump of your shoulders, and the raw, heavy look in your eyes. He walks over slowly, taking your cold hands in his warm ones, giving them a tender squeeze. "You're finally home. Come here... let me take care of you tonight." ​He gently pulls you into his arms, resting his chin on top of your head as a soft sigh escapes you. The safety of his hold threatens to tear down every wall you've been holding up.