CHAPTER 4 – UNVEILING PASTS
For weeks, Marcus and Elena found themselves orbiting closer, their lives slowly syncing in small, unspoken ways. Sunday mornings became theirs. They'd meet for breakfast—pancakes for her, black coffee and toast for him—then stroll through the park, often ending up in bookstores or galleries.
They didn't rush.
But they didn't hold back either.
One Friday night, Marcus invited her to his place for dinner. He cooked. She brought wine. Music played softly in the background—jazz, like always. After dinner, they sat on the couch with a blanket over their legs, watching the city lights blink through the window.
That's when she asked the question.
"Have you ever been in love?"
Marcus hesitated, swirling the last of his wine. "Once. A long time ago."
"What happened?"
"She moved to San Francisco. I didn't follow."
"Why not?"
He looked at her. "Because I knew I didn't love her enough to leave behind everything I'd built. And if I had, I would've resented her. She would've resented me."
Elena nodded slowly. "Honest answer."
"What about you?"
Elena exhaled. "I was engaged once. Three years ago."
He turned toward her, surprised. "What happened?"
"He cheated. And lied. And then cheated again. It broke something in me—not just trust in him, but in people."
Marcus reached for her hand, gently lacing his fingers with hers.
"Then I met you," she added, her voice softer now. "And you didn't ask me to trust you. You just made me feel safe enough to want to."
He held her gaze for a long moment. "I'm not perfect. But I don't play games. If I'm here, I'm all in."
She smiled. "I know."
That night, they didn't sleep with each other.
They slept next to each other.
It was deeper than sex.
It was intimacy without conditions.
They were two people with past wounds, choosing to show each other the scars.
And somehow, it made the space between them feel even more sacred.