Jay proposes marriage to Lilicoon? -- Anon Guest
"Independent living kind of terrifies me," she confessed, crochetting yet another square for community purposes. It was a form of therapy for her newer hands that had become a kind of nervous habit. "I know there's a community surrounding me, and people coming by to help, but... not having anyone there? With me? It sounds... lonely."
"I could cohabit? It'd mean an on-duty guard or... you could come to the sanctuary world. I'm okay with city living. More than many paxxers. You'd be safe, I'd make sure of it." Uncertainty bubbled out of Jay with the words. "You do feel safe with me, right?"
"You do make me feel safe. Safer than I could hope, but... part of my therapy involves growing my courage. If I hid behind you for all my days, I would not be very brave." Square finished, she put her work away in a handy pocket.
"I could teach you how to fight?" he was grasping at straws and he knew it. Jay took a deep breath. "I like having you in my life. You're one of the few people who look at me like I'm a person. I wanna keep that."
Lilicoon took his hands in hers, and pressed her forehead to his. "This is not 'no', dear Jay. This is 'not yet'. I must learn to stand on my own before I decide who I stand with."
"You're not leaving?"
"I am not leaving. I am living without a supervisor. That's all. And I know who and how to call for help when I need it. I just find it... frightening... to step forward."
"You don't have claws any more, but you can still strike at anyone who tries to hurt you. You're strong and you're ferocious, remember? Descended from Earth's deadliest predator by weight."
"This is why I like you," Lilicoon smiled. "You have the weirdest and most affirming pep talks."
[Photo by Bruno Kelzer on Unsplash]
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