章 271: You don’t always have to protect everyone

Elena's warmth grounded me in a way nothing else could. Her presence was like a balm to my soul, easing the jagged tension that seemed to follow me everywhere lately.

Sitting on the couch in her apartment, I found myself sinking deeper into the cushions, letting the weariness of the past few days wash over me.

I could hear her in the kitchen, the soft clatter of cups and dishes a soothing background melody, punctuated by her soft humming.

It was a tune she often hummed when she was lost in thought, and it made me smile despite the weight of everything hanging over us.

When she returned, her footsteps barely audible against the hardwood floor, I felt the shift in the air before she even touched me. Her presence had always been like that something I could feel, like a gentle breeze or the warm glow of the sun.