He finally broke the silence, his voice softer.
“Do you know what this could mean for you?”
His question was loaded, carrying the weight of consequences I hadn’t fully considered.
I hesitated, the full reality beginning to sink in.
“I don’t regret it,” I said, my voice firm.
There was a pause, the air between us thick with unspoken understanding.
“Brave,” he remarked, almost to himself.
It didn’t feel brave. It felt necessary.
His eyes softened, just a fraction, but it was enough to notice.
“You might have more friends than you realize,” he said, a hint of approval in his tone.
