Before I could even say anything, I heard the lock turn in the front door and I swore my heart sunk. It's funny how you can go from feeling like you're above the clouds to feeling like there's a black cloud hanging above your head.

"Through the back door." Connor said quietly. Quietly but swiftly, we made our way to the kitchen where the back door was located. Whoever it could be at the front door - most likely Jason - was struggling with the lock because they or he was taking a while to open the door. Luckily for Connor and I.

There was a path behind the house which would lead far away from the street and so we decided to dart quickly down the path, staying undetected as possible. I didn't realise until now, but I noticed I was holding Connor's hand. It had been a while since I held someone's hand, a supportive and caring person at that.

The feeling of fear and dread slowly ebbed away as we got further away from the house and I felt freer and freer. If only I'd known to leave six months ago.

"We're going to Hank's house. Is that alright? It was Hank's idea and he doesn't mind, in fact he's glad to finally have a use for the spare room. You can stay there until all the stuff with Jason is done and you're able to get a new house. I mean, not that I don't want you to stay with us. You can stay as long as you'd like." Connor said.

"Really? Wow," I breathed, surprised at the kindness. "That's really nice of both you and Hank. But I thought the spare room was already taken by you."

"Oh, it is. Sort of. I don't really sleep, I just shut down every now and then for a few hours. But it'd be nice to have someone to keep me company in there. If you're okay with it, that is. I can always reside in the living room, if need be." Connor said, speaking fast.

"I'm more than okay with it. I'm super grateful. Thank you, Connor." I said, remembering what he'd said to me before we left the house. I was well aware of what my heart was telling me to do but my mind told me a different thing.

It's too soon to jump into another relationship. What if I get hurt again?

I wondered if that was a risk worth taking. Maybe I needed time to think over it. Hopefully, Connor would understand. It wasn't that I didn't love him but that I didn't know exactly what I felt and the extent of it. When I knew Jason was out of my life for certain, then I'd know what I felt.

"It's alright, Y/N." Connor said, smiling at me.

We travelled to Hank's house, where we found him awake and watching TV. Only a few days ago, Connor told him what was going on with Jason and I and that's when Hank felt like he needed to take action.

"Hi Connor. Hi Y/N. Are you okay? Actually, that's a silly question to ask. You didn't deserve whatever happened to you. You're safe here. Connor and I will see to it that you don't get hurt ever again." Hank said.

"Thank you, Hank. It really means a lot." I smiled at him.

That first night in Connor's room was awkward but entertaining. At first, Connor didn't know exactly where to sit as he feared that he would make me feel uncomfortable. I reassured him and told him he was welcome to sit on the bed with me, after all it was his bed. We spent the whole night talking and talking and I didn't feel tired at all. I felt happy, for what seemed like the first time in forever.

The first night I spent in his dream was a blur between a dream and reality. I didn't know if half of what happened actually did happen. Maybe we'd gotten a lot more closer than I intended to. Maybe I actually had leaned in first without realising. Maybe he had pressed his cool, soft lips onto mine.

Whatever happened, I hoped it wasn't a dream and that it was real.

In the weeks that followed, I finally got my life back from the clasps of horrid Jason. I sold the house, I told him he'd never see me again and I finally found the courage to let him get punished for what he'd done. He said he was sorry, multiple times but I'd heard that too many times. An apology without change is manipulation, they say. And Jason had proved that many times.

After knowing Jason was finally out of my life and that he'd be moving country after his prison release, I felt normal and like me again. In those weeks that followed, I allowed myself to grow closer to Connor, slowly but surely. I now knew what red flags to look for in a relationship and with Connor, there were no red flags. I felt bad for making him wait so long for me to finally fully reciprocate his feelings.

Tonight was an oddly special night, although I don't know for what reason that was. Connor and I sit in our room together as we usually do but for some reason, I feel as if something will happen. Something good.

"You look unusually happy today, Y/N." Connor says.

"I do?" I ask.

"Yes. There's nothing bad about it though, I love it when you're happy. You have a really cute smile, did you know?" Connor says, pinching my cheeks softly.

"Not a lot of people have told me that but thank you." I laugh.

We talk for ages during the night until I can feel my eyes dropping and I know my body is telling me to sleep. But I don't want to just yet.

"So, Y/N. What's the cause of this happiness then? Is there a certain reason why you're in such a happy mood?" Connor asks, smirking.

"Yes, there is." I say but the words come out slightly slurred. I don't realise how tired I am until now. I think I'm maybe even drunk with fatigue.

"And what may that reason be?" Connor asks. I yawn quite loudly and lie on Connor's shoulder without realising.

"Silly Connor. Don't you know? You're the reason." I mumble, yawning again.

"Really?" He asks.

"Duh. You always make me happy. In fact, sometimes I get scared that I'm not gonna always be this happy for long and that I'm gonna lose you somehow. Whenever I'm around you, I feel happy and free. And that is one of the many reasons why I...I," I yawn again mid sentence. "I love you."

I feel my eyes shut before I can hear a reply from him but I know he places me down on my pillow and holds me close to his chest. Close enough for me to hear his thirium pump hard at work. Close enough for me to feel like I'm wrapped up in him. Where I know I'll always be safe.