Unbroken: A Love That Defies the World – by L.J. Hart – Chapter 10: The First Morning of After

Unbroken: A Love That Defies the World – by L.J. Hart – Chapter 10: The First Morning of After

The sunlight spilled gently through the blinds, casting thin golden lines across the bed where they lay tangled together. It was morning—but not just any morning. It was the first morning after. The morning when everything had changed.

Ethan stirred slowly, as if his body knew that opening his eyes meant stepping into this strange new world—a world where home was no longer home. A world where the worst had finally happened.

But before the weight of it could crush him again, he felt Nathan’s arms tighten protectively around him.

“I’m here,” Nathan whispered softly, as though sensing the exact moment Ethan had woken.

Those two simple words were everything.

Ethan’s voice was rough from sleep and tears. “I don’t even know where to start.”

“You don’t have to start anything right now,” Nathan whispered, his lips brushing against Ethan’s hairline. “Right now, you just exist. That’s enough.”

Ethan’s throat tightened. “How do you do that?”

“Do what?”

“Make me feel safe… when I feel like my world is falling apart.”

Nathan smiled faintly, his voice steady but warm. “Because I know what it feels like to have nothing but fear. And I promised myself that if I ever found someone who felt like home, I would fight to be the safety they never had.”

Ethan’s chest ached at the quiet power of those words. No one had ever fought for him before. He had always been the one carrying his own weight, hiding behind the careful mask, trying not to disappoint, not to be seen, not to draw attention. But Nathan—Nathan saw him fully, raw and exposed, and loved him anyway.

Maybe because of it.

The hours drifted by slowly that morning. There were no schedules to keep, no voices shouting from behind closed doors. Only the distant hum of passing cars and the soft rise and fall of their breathing.

But as the stillness stretched, Ethan’s anxiety slowly returned, clawing at the edges of his peace.

“What happens now?” he whispered, barely audible.

Nathan shifted, propping himself up on one elbow so he could look down at him. “Now?” He paused thoughtfully. “Now we figure it out.”

“My father won’t forgive me.”

“I don’t care about your father.”

“But I do!” Ethan burst, sitting up suddenly. “He’s still my family, Nathan. My mother… my home—”

Nathan immediately sat up behind him, wrapping his arms tightly around his waist, anchoring him. “I know, baby. I know. But you didn’t break anything, okay? He did. You told the truth. You loved honestly. If he can’t see that… that’s on him.”

Ethan closed his eyes, his voice barely a whisper. “It doesn’t stop hurting.”

Nathan nuzzled against his shoulder. “I know it doesn’t. But you are not broken.”

A tear slipped down Ethan’s cheek. Nathan kissed it away gently, holding him tighter. His voice trembled but stayed strong.

“We’ll build our own home. It won’t be easy, and it won’t be fast. But we’ll make something beautiful out of this mess, Ethan. I swear.”

Later that afternoon, Nathan left briefly to pick up groceries while Ethan stayed behind. The apartment felt even smaller when he was alone, like the silence itself was pressing on him.

His phone buzzed.

It was Zoe.

I heard. I’m so sorry, Ethan. If you need anything, I’m here. Always.

The simple message made him choke up. Someone still cared.

But the next message shook him even more.

And… for what it’s worth, I’m proud of you. For being brave.

Brave.

Ethan had never thought of himself that way. Most days, he only felt weak. Afraid. Crushed under the weight of expectations.

But maybe, just maybe, surviving this — still loving Nathan openly, still breathing — was its own kind of bravery.

When Nathan returned, arms full of groceries, he found Ethan sitting cross-legged on the couch, staring out the window.

“You okay?” Nathan asked carefully, setting the bags down.

Ethan turned to him, his voice quiet but clearer than it had been in days. “I got a message from Zoe.”

Nathan sat beside him, taking his hand. “Yeah?”

“She said she’s proud of me. For being brave.”

Nathan smiled softly. “She’s right.”

Ethan swallowed hard. “I don’t feel brave. But… I want to be.”

Nathan pulled him closer, resting his forehead against Ethan’s. “Then let’s be brave together.”

Ethan breathed in deeply, letting the words settle inside him.

Together.

For so long, it had always been him against the world. But not anymore.

They had each other now.

And somehow, that made all the difference.

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