Oliver's POV
"I'm overwhelmed, Oliver," she whispered, her back turned against me. "I just... I want to go home."
The words felt like a knife twisting into my chest. But I didn't push. I couldn't. I just nodded and led her out of my apartment.
We drove in a silence so thick it felt like it was choking the air out of the cabin. When I finally pulled up in front of her apartment, I couldn't let her just walk away.
"Did I do something wrong, Aurora?" I asked, my voice low and vulnerable.
She didn't look at me. She just clutched her bag tighter. "No... no, Oliver. It's just... everything. I'm just overwhelmed by all of this."
I knew she was lying. I could smell her anxiety, but beneath it, there was a restlessness I'd only ever felt from her when she was under my body as Raymond.
"Okay," I said, forcing a calmness I didn't feel. "I'll give you some space."
The relief that washed over her face was a knife to my gut. "Thank you," she breathed.
