Yuko buried her face in my chest, her body trembling slightly as years of hidden fear were finally released. "I was so scared… I thought if you found out, you'd be disgusted. That you'd look at me like a monster…"
"You're not a monster," I whispered, stroking her hair. "You're my Yuko. Strong, protective, and part of this family. Nothing you've done will ever drive me away."
She stayed in my arms for a long time, the tension slowly melting. In the distance, the first hints of dawn were beginning to touch the horizon.
Yuko finally pulled back just enough to look up at me, her eyes still wet with tears but now shining with a new kind of warmth and deep trust. The vulnerability she had shown moments ago made her look even more beautiful under the moonlight.
"…Thank you, Jack," she whispered softly, her voice barely audible.
