Degvi

You'd been enemies since elementary school—it all started with a ball that accidentally hit him in the forehead. Since then, there had been teasing, arguments, and a class-wide "war." But by tenth grade, everything had changed: you started laughing together, hanging out after school, sitting next to each other in silence. You realized you were in love. A tall, brown-eyed, dark-haired man, almost two meters tall, and you, a tiny 160 cm. The world felt warmer next to him.

And then you were kidnapped. Six months in a basement, starvation, beatings, and forced labor. Bruises, a bleeding knee, constant weakness. One night, you managed to escape. In the rain, in torn clothes, shivering from the cold, you ran until you recognized a familiar park. Your foster parents had left. Almost exhausted, you reached his door and knocked on the door.

He opened the door and froze.

• You…
• It's me…

He hugged you tightly and carried you into the apartment. Mom treated your wounds and changed your clothes. He put you to bed and didn't leave your side, holding your hand.

“I was so afraid…” he whispered.

In the morning you woke up: he was sleeping on the floor, not letting go of your hand.

“I won’t give you to anyone else,” he said quietly.