The search(12)

Nila's expression turned a little serious as she looked up at his face.

Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. She lifted a hand to touch his face, her voice trembling slightly. "You never told me any of this."

"I didn't think it mattered," Cyrus admitted, his voice low. "But now, after everything we've been through, I realize it does. You're not just my partner, Nila, you've been my hope and anchor long before I even knew who you were. You saved me without even trying."

Tears spilt over, but Nila smiled through them, her heart full. "Sol, you'll make me cry more if you keep talking like this."

Cyrus chuckled, brushing a tear from her cheek with his thumb. "I'm just telling the truth."

She rested her forehead against his, their breaths mingling. "If I ever danced at that festival, it was probably because I was trying to forget my own worries. I didn't think I could have such an impact on someone's life without even knowing it."