Sneak Peek: Nour Ch6 (2)

1. I'm running into this problem of not knowing if I showed a sneak peek or not because my brain is weird like that. I know this hasn't been though.

2. We are getting so close to the angsty parts. Like UGH! I can't friggin' wait! I love this shit!

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Dancing with them feels effortless. It's a hidden memory so buried that it hurts to try to uncover it, but you know it's there. Even if it wasn't, does it matter? This feels right. Being in their arms, allowing them to take the lead as the two of you dance from one side of the room to the other, feels like something you have done all your life. And that fills you with such sadness that you almost wish to tear away from them.

 You are reminded of your dance in the square mere days after they rescued you from the tower. Such events feel like they happened decades ago, but you remember. Unlike every other distant memory with Nour, you are able to recall that one with ease.

 "Nour," you find yourself saying breathlessly. You refuse to look at them, terrified of what you may discover resting in their eyes.

 "Shh," they whisper so lightly, "I know." You want to wrap your arms around them, to fall into their hold and ask them to never let you go. Your heart aches to do such a thing, but it also urges you to widen the gap. Unspoken pain and a lack of trust rest between you, widening the chasm that both of you are fine with falling into. There is so much wrong, yet so much is right.

 "It hurts," you admit, ignoring their wish for you to stay silent. Your chest feels like someone is beating on it, hammering and demanding for it to open. "It hurts so much."

 "Shh," they continue, though you can hear the helplessness and ache in their voice. "Let us have this dance." And you do. The two of you dance like it will be your last; perhaps it will. And as the music winds down, bringing your dance to an end, you run. You push yourself away, and you leave the ballroom behind, not once looking over your shoulder to see what Nour is doing or how they feel. You can't.