Page 171 of The Yoga Teacher

She had waited long enough.

Her life was already hers again. Her spine was strong, her voice steady. She hadn’t rebuilt herself for him—but she had made enough room to choose.

And she was done pretending she didn’t already know what she wanted.

She wantedhim.

Not slowly. Not piece by piece.

All of him.

Back in their home. Back in her bed. Back beside her—every morning, every night, every messy, imperfect day in between.

It didn’t start later.

It startednow.

Her hand came to rest against his chest. His heart was galloping under her palm.

“I want this,” she said quietly.

His eyes fluttered closed. A sound escaped him—half a breath, half a prayer.

She leaned in, her hand still pressed to his chest. His heartbeat was thunder beneath her palm. She thought he might kiss her again.

But he didn’t.

Instead, he dropped.

Straight to his knees.

“Daniel?” she said, startled.

He didn’t look up. Just knelt there in front of her, his breath ragged, his hands curled into loose fists against his thighs.

“I love you,” he said.

The words landed like a gift. Like sunlight.

Her breath caught.

“I love you,” he said again, voice breaking. “And I’m sorry. I am so fucking sorry.”

She didn’t move.

“I know I don’t deserve you. I know that.” His voice shook. “I lost the right to ask you for anything. And this—this chance—it already feels like more than I should ever get back.”

Her hands hovered at her sides. Still, she didn’t reach for him.

“I understand that right now this is just sex,” he said, staring at the floor. “That’s what you want from me—God, Hannah, I’ll give you anything you ever ask from me. I’ll be yours in whatever way you’ll let me.”

She blinked, stunned.

“But if there’s even the smallest chance this could be more…” He swallowed hard. “If there’s even the smallest chance that someday, not today, not tomorrow—but one day—you might want me back for real…”

His voice cracked open.

“Then I swear to you, I’ll earn it. I’ll be everything you ask. I’ll sacrifice anything. Just to see you smile again. Just to be near you. Just to make you proud to look at me.”

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