Page 304 of Let Me In

Another pause.

“You don’t hide anymore, do you?”

I can’t answer. My throat is too tight.

But I shake my head. Small. Honest.

“That’s it,” he breathes. “That’s my brave girl. You let me in.”

And something in me just—gives.

The tears aren’t sharp now.

They’re soft. Continuous. Like a river worn into the earth.

And I don’t fight them.

I let them fall. Let them clean me out.

Because I’m not trying to be strong anymore.

Not here.

Not with him.

Not when he already knows.

It happens all at once.

Not the pain.

Not even the heat.

But something inside me just… gives.

Like a thread pulled too tight finally slipping free.

I don’t even know when it starts—just that suddenly, I’m not trying to hold it together anymore.

I’m crying.

Not loud.

Not broken.

Just… open.

Tears slipping silently down my cheeks, breath trembling in my chest.

And somehow, Cal knows.

His hand stills. Lifts. Falls again—once. Twice. Firm but steady.

Then one final swat, slower, like punctuation.

He doesn’t speak right away.

Just rests his palm on the curve of my thigh, warm and grounding.

---