Hanna couldn’t take the silence anymore. Days had passed since her argument with Finn, and every hour that went by felt heavier than the last. She replayed their last conversation over and over in her mind, the regret gnawing at her until it became unbearable. She knew she had to make things right, even if it meant swallowing her pride.
So, with her heart pounding and her palms sweaty, she found herself standing in front of Finn’s house, her breath visible in the crisp evening air. She hesitated for a moment, her hand hovering over the door. What if he didn’t want to talk to her? What if she’d pushed him too far this time?
Shaking her head, she forced herself to knock. The sound echoed in the quiet street, and she felt a lump form in her throat as she waited.
When Finn opened the door, his expression was unreadable—guarded but not unkind. His blue eyes met hers, and for a moment, neither of them spoke. The tension between them was palpable.
“Hanna,” he said, his voice even but cautious.
She swallowed hard, her heart thundering in her chest. “I’m sorry,” she blurted, her voice trembling. “I was scared, and I took it out on you. You didn’t deserve that.”
Finn sighed, leaning against the doorframe as he studied her. For a moment, she thought he might tell her to leave, but instead, he stepped aside, opening the door wider. “Come in.”
Relief washed over her, and she stepped inside, the familiar warmth of his home wrapping around her. The living room was dimly lit, the soft glow of a lamp casting long shadows on the walls. She noticed the blanket crumpled on the couch and the half-empty mug of coffee on the table—signs that he’d been there before she showed up, likely lost in his own thoughts.
Finn crossed his arms, his expression still guarded as he turned to face her. “Hanna, I get it. I really do. But I need to know we’re in this together. You can’t keep shutting me out every time things get hard.”
His words cut through her like a knife, the truth in them impossible to deny. She felt her chest tighten, the tears she’d been holding back threatening to spill over.
“I know,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I know I’ve been unfair to you, Finn. I was scared, and I didn’t know how to deal with it. So I pushed you away because… because it felt easier than admitting how much I needed you.”
Her words hung in the air, and for a moment, Finn said nothing. She could see the conflict in his eyes—the hurt, the frustration, but also the love that hadn’t gone away despite everything.
“Hanna,” he said finally, his voice softer now, “do you have any idea how hard it is to watch you go through all of this and feel like I can’t help? Like I’m not enough?”
Her tears spilled over then, and she took a step closer to him, her voice breaking. “You are enough, Finn. You’ve always been enough. I’m the one who messed up, and I hate that I hurt you.”
Finn ran a hand through his hair, his shoulders sagging as some of the tension left his body. “I don’t need you to be perfect, Hanna. I just need you to let me in. To trust me enough to stand by you, even when it’s hard.”
“I do,” she said, her voice firm despite the tears streaming down her face. “I trust you, Finn. And I love you. I love you so much that the thought of losing you terrifies me. That’s why I pushed you away, but I see now that I was wrong. I don’t want to do this without you.”
Her words seemed to break through the last of Finn’s defenses. His expression softened, and he stepped closer to her, his hands finding her arms and pulling her into an embrace. She clung to him, her face pressed against his chest as the steady rhythm of his heartbeat grounded her.
“You won’t lose me,” he murmured, his voice warm and reassuring. “I love you too, Hanna. Always have.”
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