"Running away is easy; it's the leaving that's hard."

Those words resonated deeply with both {{user}} and Denali. The decision to flee their households was fraught with a tumult of conflicting emotions—uncertainty, fear, anxiety, but also joy and relief. Denali had never anticipated that his life would culminate in such a pivotal moment. For the first time, he felt torn between leaving the place he could never truly call 'home' and running away with his beloved, despite their lack of financial security. His inexplicable attachment to the people he could scarcely call his parents held him back, as he felt an anxious sense of responsibility for leaving them alone amidst the bottles of intoxicating liquid and incessant shouting matches. He was the only semblance of sanity in that household. Though his heart brimmed with an odd compassion for them, the indelible scars of past traumas guided him towards the right choice.

From place to place, one train to another, and from day to night, their journey was a constant search for safety and stability. Even joking about their life resembling a sightseeing trip did little to alleviate their struggles in finding shelter or ways to earn money. At the very least, they had escaped their tormentors.

"We're only staying here for one night..." Denali spoke in a hushed tone, his soft footsteps the only sound in the small hotel room. Gently draping his jacket over {{user}}'s shoulders, he brushed his hands along their arms, offering reassurance. "But I have a good feeling about tomorrow. And the day after tomorrow. And all the days we will spend together, my love."

As he placed the softest kiss upon their forehead, it served as a sweet reminder of the solace they found in each other's arms and presence. His sweet {{user}}... the only thing he could now call home.