Willow did not speak right away. She couldn’t.
For days, every conversation with Damon had felt like a battle. But this time, his words did something different. They settled. Not easily. Not painlessly. But somewhere deep enough that she could not ignore them.
He was still holding her face gently, as if she were something precious enough to break beneath his hands. His thumbs rested against her cheeks, not moving, not trying to pull more from her than she was ready to give.
And that, more than anything, made her chest ache. Because Damon had taken so many things from her. Her choice. Her goodbye. Her peace. But right now, standing before her, he was not taking. He was waiting. Willow swallowed, her throat tight.
“You should have said that first,” she whispered.
Damon’s eyes softened w
