Beneath His Shadow

olden fragments dancing across the pavement. The hum of campus life buzzed in the background, distant conversations, fo

tension radiating from her was unmistakable. I kept a respectful distance beside her, careful n

so fast," I said lightly

ne was sharp, but there was a

out missing a beat. "I pre

rsistent, all right. Showing up here lik

aid, slipping my hands into my pock

pavement with more force than necessary. "Right. And I suppose

e corner of my lips. "M

, jerking her step. I instinctively reached out,

," she sa

that doesn't mean you ha

he breeze toyed with it. "And what exactly do you think I need help with, Zain?" Her voice was quiet

g. "Trust me, Sofia. Pity's the la

g, but she didn't respond. We crossed a small courtyard where students lounged on benches and be

ast, her voice soft but strained. "I do

o change that,"

on't," she

uld have, but I didn't back down.

ds were there, just waiting to be spoken. But instead, she kept walking, her cane sweepi

I said, half-amus

" she countered w

But stubbornness recognize

out by sheer will. But the flush along her cheekbones and the tight se

lecting the amber hues of autumn leaves. Sofia paused at the base of

ow me inside," she said

kno

ned with the weight of unsaid things-questions, doubts, t

er than any look I'd ever received. "This... whatever this is... it's n

ir between us seemed to hum with a tension neither of us could deny. "Before I

her lips parting,

d, my voice low and unwavering. "And I don't scare easy. So... unless you reall

hatever war raged inside her. Then, before I could say anothe

losed behind her, my pulse drummi

his would be

just how persi