Burden Me

"It's not that important," he shrugged, taking his seat at the long table. I was seated near the front but on the side.

"It's as important as those scars on your back and where they came from, Arik. You should've told me," I insisted.

He adjusted his hair and looked at me gently. I noticed his hand playing with his pen.

"I don't want to burden you anymore, Celeste. You have a lot to deal with," he said, making me frown as I stared at him.

He chuckled and took my hand. "What?"

"Burden me anytime, Arik. I want you to burden me all the time, please," I pleaded with him, feeling that familiar tug at my heart.

We held each other's gaze for a long moment until he let out a sigh, as if finally giving in to what I wanted.

"I will. I'm sorry."

The meeting lasted nearly two hours. After lunch, we headed to Arik's secret house. On the way there, I suddenly remembered Hannah because I hadn't seen her lately.