As the quiet of the garden deepened, the warmth of Lise's hand in mine became more than just a comfort it was an anchor.
The weight of everything we had been through, the battles fought, the risks taken, and the overwhelming uncertainty of the future, seemed to melt away in the simple act of holding her hand.
For a moment, I closed my eyes, breathing in the soft, fragrant air, letting it fill me with a sense of peace I hadn't felt in a long time.
When I opened my eyes again, Lise was looking at me with that same gentle expression that made my heart skip a beat.
Her eyes, a deep shade of blue in the moonlight, seemed to hold the universe in them. There was a softness there, a vulnerability I didn't often see in her, and it made this moment feel even more intimate.
"Let's get out of here," Lise said, her voice barely above a whisper, but it carried the weight of so much more. It wasn't just about leaving the garden.