Maria.
After what Noah had done earlier, right before leaving my room, something inside me had shifted. The tight knot of anxiety that had been sitting heavily in my chest for hours seemed to loosen, even if just a little. I felt lighter… calmer.
There was nothing to be afraid of.
He loved me.
And not just in words—Noah had proven it over and over again. I could recall countless moments where I had pushed him away, rejected him, even ignored him completely… yet he never left. He stayed. Patient. Persistent. Certain.
Now, I finally understood what people meant when they said it was better to choose the one who loves you, rather than the one you love. Because the kind of warmth Noah gave me… it was steady. It didn't waver. It didn't hurt.
It healed.
A small smile tugged at my lips as I stood there, lost in those thoughts, before remembering his earlier words. He had asked me to freshen up….we were going to meet with some of the elders in the council.
