“At first, I didn’t understand fear, didn’t feel it, didn’t care for it, and I was proud of that.” He swallows. “But someone taught me the realness behind an emotion I’ve managed to avoid my entire life.” He looks at me again, licking his lips. “Now I know it’s not a weakness, but a strength. It’s a fucking strength to fear you might lose the ones you love most because it makes you want to fight that much harder.”
