The night wrapped the rooftop in a velvet hush, the stars twinkling softly above like distant promises. Liora and Mara sat close, the steady rhythm of their breathing blending with the gentle rustle of leaves. In this quiet space, courage wasn't loud or bold—it was gentle, like the first bloom of a fragile flower pushing through the soil.
Liora glanced at Mara, her heart swelling with a mix of affection and uncertainty. "Sometimes, courage feels like the hardest thing to find," she confessed softly. "Especially when everything inside me is shouting to stay safe, to keep my walls up."
Mara reached out, her fingers brushing against Liora's hand. "I know. But courage isn't the absence of fear—it's choosing to move forward despite it."
Liora swallowed, feeling the truth of those words settle deep inside her. "Being with you makes me want to be brave. Even when it's scary."
Mara smiled, eyes shining with quiet strength. "We don't have to be brave alone. We have each other."
The city lights flickered below, but up here, under the vast night sky, it felt like the world had paused just for them. The weight of past hurts and future uncertainties seemed to lift, if only for a moment.
Liora leaned into Mara, resting her head on her shoulder. "Thank you for being my courage," she whispered.
Mara wrapped an arm around her, pulling her closer. "And you're mine."
In the stillness of the rooftop garden, surrounded by blooming flowers and soft shadows, two hearts found quiet courage—not in grand gestures, but in the simple act of choosing each other a
gain and again.