The night was heavy with silence, the kind that made every heartbeat sound louder than it should. Selena sat on the couch, knees pulled to her chest, her hair falling loosely against her damp cheeks. She had cried until her throat felt raw, until her body ached from shuddering, but still the storm inside refused to settle.
Jack was still there, leaning against the far wall, his arms folded across his chest. His eyes never left her, though his jaw was tight, as if holding back all the words he wanted to say. He had let her cry without interruption, only stepping closer when she looked like she might fall apart completely.
Selena rubbed her swollen eyes with the back of her hand and finally broke the silence. "Jack," she whispered, her voice fragile, "can I ask you something… something I need to know before anything else?"
