“You’re not so scary,” Howl says. His gaze trails from your face downward, head tilted to the side. “I don’t know why they say you are.”

He takes a confident step towards you. The villagers whisper that you’re a twisted witch, a foul sorcerer turned into a beast. You’re not any of those things. You’re—

“I want to help break your curse,” Howl tells you, grinning. There’s no reason to run from you.

—beautiful.