Between Flames and Promises

the line, all the tension I'd been holding onto snapped. My knees gave out, and I

iefly before his hoarse, strained voi

pen?" His voice, raspy and weak, sent a chill

k? Are you hurt?" I aske

. It was painfully obvious that he wasn't fine, but he still tried to reassure me. In that moment, my heart was

determination not to let him evade the truth, I fi

his face pale, his lips tinged with a sickly white hue. Thick bandages swathed his arm and leg. Despite everything,

e fire, he was caught in the blast of an adjacent vent that hadn't been full

minor fracture in his right leg. More importantly, he managed to shut off

or to suggest he was a man who had just endured severe injuries.

he had come to losing his life. My gaze fell on the thick bandages covering his i

wardly reached out to comfort me.

face in his blanket, sobbing t

o his arms, holding me close. His voice, normally ca

elf than see me shed a single tear f

tears weren't from fear-they were

ars. Lorenzo didn't seem to mind, but once I regained my composure, e

chuckled and, as I turned t

his eyes vulnerable. "I've liked you for

ly one feeling unsure and caught off guard

ed. I'd thought he was a straightforward, no-nonsense guy, and I di

hange the phone number, so the florist texted me directly to remind me to receive the package. I couldn't h

e, his surprise had a bit of a hiccup, but they say the most romantic thing in the wo

e speeches or dazzling theatrics. Instead, he quietly recounted all the little things he'

flourishes of romance. But it was warm, steady, and comfortin

at work while he ate at the firehouse, or we ordered take

used on cooking. I froze, my footsteps instinctively softening as I approached. He hadn't noticed me yet

e pan, his frequent glances at the recipe on his phone-all of it was so endearing. Smiling

nd saw me, his face lit up with

he asked, a sheepish gr

he table laden with dishes, all my f

"I tried. Not sure if it's any good, though." I couldn't h

cord for me. Lorenzo watched in astonishment as I practically cle

humoring me?" he asked incredulously, his

ven better than what I usually order at a restaurant!" I e

to ruffle my hair gently. "If you like it, eat as much as you want. And i

e off guard. It was so bright, so warm, like a bree

in the rain. For the first time, I allowed myself to dream about a future with Lorenzo-sharing dinners, weathering life's changes

Beyond the romantic glow, it was filled with the messiness of mundane st