TWO PACES AWAY “I don’t want to lose you,” she whispered at the door. He watched her from the shadows like a thousand times before. “You’ve avoided me all evening.” “I needed to be alone.” The scent of him undid her and every wall she’d known. “My duty is to guard you.” “Then guard my mother tonight. Go with the army — don’t die for me in this fight.” “I can’t leave you alone.” He stood two paces away. She stepped into the silence with the words she couldn’t say. “Why don’t you fight for what you want?” “I have all I need.” “Then look me in the eyes and tell that lie to me.” She held his gaze and waited for the truth he wouldn’t say. Two paces away, she moved closer. “Tell me that you love me.” “No, I don’t.” Two paces away, and a lifetime in the way. “You’re a coward, you’re a liar.” Her words cut through the night. “If you don’t love me, say it to my eyes.” He held her gaze in silence, no armor left to hide. “I was afraid,” “Afraid of falling for you.” “You should have,” she whispered, and slowly turned away. “I did.” Two words against the silence — the truth he’d buried deep. He loved what he couldn’t keep. Two paces away, she moved closer. No more walls, no more lies. She stole the kiss she’s owed and poured a life into the taste. One kiss, one night. One truth they couldn’t hide. She kissed him like tomorrow was already denied. “Stop protecting me. Just love me. Say it plain.” “I love you,” he said it like a vow. “My queen.” She took the words like a stolen kingdom and held them while she still could. No promise. No tomorrow. Just the taste of what remains. One kiss, a lifetime. One truth that will never come again.
