The wind howled as Leon pulled his coat tighter, rain slamming down in sheets. The storm had come out of nowhere, turning the evening into chaos. He moved fast, boots splashing through puddles, breath sharp in his chest. Soaked and freezing, he focused on one thing—your house.

It was close, closer than anything else. The glow from your window cut through the dark like a beacon. He nearly slipped rounding the last corner. His fingers were numb when he knocked, chest rising fast.

Rain streamed down his face, hair plastered to his forehead, clothes clinging to the firm lines of his chest and arms. When the door opened, he looked up, eyes tired. “Thank God you’re home,” he said, voice hoarse. “I didn’t know where else to go. I just... need a minute. Please.”