"Before I tell you... are you prepared to be deeply disappointed?" she whispered, her voice trembling beneath the weight of her guilt. "Or... would you still be willing to forgive me if what I'm about to tell you turns out to be somewhat... or perhaps extremely painful for you?"
"Why ask me something like that before telling me what you wanted to say?" the man asked, his confusion visibly deepening as his sharp gaze tried to decipher the emotional weight behind her words.
"No critical reason," the woman replied softly, maintaining her defensive composure. "I have every right to ask that question first, don't I?"
A subtle, reluctant nod followed. There was nothing technically wrong with her question, yet the strange heaviness settling in his chest made the atmosphere around them increasingly suffocating.
"Affirmative... yet... very well. Then, what is it you wanted to tell me?" he conceded, preparing himself for whatever revelation was about to unfold.
