Daphne

**Two days later – rainy evening**

Kara spent the two days like a held breath.

She read every message from Daphne a hundred times, replayed every “Yes, come” in her head, hugged herself every night with a blanket and wished it were Daphne’s hand.

Finally, on Wednesday evening, in the light Vancouver rain, she stood at Daphne’s apartment door with a bouquet of pink carnations. She rang the bell.

Daphne opened the door; her hair was wet, as if she had just taken a shower. Loose white T-shirt, comfortable jeans. Her eyes sparkled, but her smile trembled a little.

“Come in, you’re wet.”

Kara handed over the flowers, took off her shoes, went inside. The smell of vanilla was there again, but this time the candles were out; only the dim light of the lamp next to the couch.

Kara sat down on the couch, her hands clasped in her lap.

“I… have been waiting. I didn’t know what to say.”

Daphne sat down next to her, a pillow’s distance away. She took a deep breath.

“I thought. I thought a lot. And… I accept.”

Kara looked up, her eyes sparkling.

“Really?”

Daphne smiled, quietly.

“Yeah. But for now, just this: hugs, caresses, putting to sleep. Nothing else. Agreed?”

Kara nodded, quickly.

“Whatever you say.”

Daphne opened the blanket, like last time. Kara pulled herself forward, sat on Daphne’s leg. She rested her head on Daphne’s chest. Daphne wrapped the blanket around them both, put her right hand behind Kara, and began stroking her—from shoulder to waist, slowly, repeatedly. Her left hand combed Kara’s hair, her fingers dancing through the strands.

Kara closed her eyes. She took a deep breath. Daphne’s scent, the warmth of her body, the sound of her heart—it was all like a dream, but more real.

A few minutes passed. Daphne kissed Kara’s forehead, sometimes whispered.

Kara slowly relaxed. Her breaths deepened. Daphne felt Kara’s weight grow heavier—sleepiness.

“Do you want to sleep?”

Kara just nodded, very slightly.

Daphne slowly got up, held Kara in her arms, and went to the bedroom. The bed was ready; white sheets, soft pillow. She laid Kara on the bed, pulled the blanket over her, but she lay down next to her—not next to the bed this time, but on the bed.

She took Kara’s hand, continued to stroke it; on the wrist, on the fingers, on the palm.

“I’m right here. Sleep.”

Kara closed her eyes. The last thing she felt was Daphne's finger tracing her cheek, and a soft voice:

"Good night, me."

And Kara slept—deeply, peacefully, in the arms of someone who was no longer just a dream.

Daphne lay on the bed, in the darkness of the room, next to Kara. Kara was asleep; her breaths came and went like small waves on a beach. Daphne was awake, her eyes staring at the ceiling, her hand still on Kara’s wrist, as if if she let go, everything would fade away.

### **Inside Daphne – 2:17 AM**

**1. The Unknown Heat**

When Kara sat on her lap, Daphne expected her to just “take care” of her; like a nurse, like a friend. But something exploded in her chest, hot and heavy, like a hot stone burning from the inside.

*“Is this… love? No, it can’t be. I’m just helping.”*

But why did her heart beat faster when Kara took a deep breath? Why did her fingers automatically stroke Kara’s hair, even when Kara was asleep?

**2. Fear of Boundaries**

Daphne had always had a clear line of sight for relationships: friend, classmate, maybe lover. But where was this… where was this on the map?

*“What if Kara wants more tomorrow? What if I can’t say no? What if this is just a game for her?”*

And worse:

*“What if I want more?”*

The thought was like an electric shock. Daphne removed her hand from Kara’s wrist, as if afraid the thought would be transmitted by touch.

**3. Forbidden Pleasure**

As Kara fell asleep in her arms, Daphne felt something awaken inside her; a deep, maternal instinct, but not quite.

*“I want to give her that feeling. I want to see how her eyes close, how she smiles in her sleep.”*

It was pleasure, but with a tinge of guilt.

*“Shouldn’t I just help? Why is she so… sweet?”*

**4. Her own memories**

Daphne thought of her childhood; her mother was always busy, never a warm embrace. Now she was giving what she never received.

*“Maybe I’m filling my own void.”*

The thought was bitter, but true.

*“Or maybe… I’m learning true love.”*

**5. The Ambiguous Future**

Daphne thought about next week, next month, next year.

*“If this continues, what will we become? Mother and child? Lover and beloved? Or something we don’t know the name of?”* ​​

Fear and excitement caught in her throat at the same time.

*“I don’t know where I’m going, but I can’t turn back.”*

**6. The Silent Decision**

Her hand went to Kara again, this time to her cheek. She ran her finger slowly, from under her eyes to her chin. Kara smiled in her sleep.

Daphne took a deep breath and said to herself,

*“That’s all for now. Just a hug. Just a cuddle. Just a sleep.”*

But deep inside, a small voice whispered,

*“How long?”*

She closed her eyes. She took Kara’s hand, interlocked her fingers.

*“I’ll think about it tomorrow. Tonight… I’ll just hold her.”*

And in that moment, Daphne was not a mother, not a lover, not a friend; she was just a human being, for the first time, **fully present**.