Part 85

Haisley rests her forehead on Nathan's shoulder again. She takes a deep breath and exhales slowly, never letting go of her embrace around his neck.

"I'm sorry," she whispers softly. Nathan also falls silent and chooses to listen. His hands are clasped at Haisley's waist, and he places his chin on top of her head. He, too, takes a deep breath and exhales slowly.

"No need to apologize. I'm the one who should apologize here," he responds softly. And those words make Haisley feel breathless for a moment. "I asked too much from you, yet I've never given you anything. No kindness, no hope. I haven't planted a single goodness all this time, but suddenly I'm asking for all that goodness from you. I have no shame," Nathan says with a sad smile on his face. "But I want you to know, I've fallen in love with you. And perhaps you can say this is some kind of punishment that God gives me because I've wasted you all this time. So now, He wants me to know that this has been your feeling toward me.