Kristina took a step forward, but suddenly her knees buckled beneath her. Her purse slipped from her grasp, landing softly on the carpet with a gentle thud as she crumpled down. The sound rang out sharply in the stillness of the hallway.
"Doctor!"
Axel sprang into action, his heart racing. He dropped to his knees in front of her, gripping her shoulders just before she could completely collapse.
"Are you okay? Did you hurt yourself?" he asked urgently, concerned about flooding his voice.
Kristina blinked, her breath unsteady, her vision still a bit hazy. For a moment, she looked as if she had just been yanked from a long, painful dream. Then, she managed a weak, trembling smile.
"I'm—I'm fine," she whispered, her fingers lightly clutching the sleeve of his jacket. "It's just… my strength vanished the moment I saw you standing right in front of my door."
Her voice wavered again.
"I thought I was ready. I kept telling myself I was prepared to see you again. But the instant I spotted you in the hallway… my legs just… refused to cooperate."
Axel felt a painful tightening in his chest.
He knelt there in front of her, holding on tight.
"I'm here now, so take your time to regain your strength," he said softly.
Her eyes glistened with fresh tears as she gave a faint nod.
"…Thank you," she whispered.
In that quiet hallway, with her trembling hands still gripping his sleeve, Axel realized that seeing him hadn't just caught her off guard; it had completely unraveled her.
After a moment, Kristina finally mustered enough strength to stand. Her movements were slow and cautious, as if her body was still holding a grudge for giving out so abruptly. She turned toward the door and slid the key into the lock.
It wouldn't budge, which puzzled her and made her feel a bit embarrassed, so she tried again, but the lock remained stubborn. The silence of the hallway suddenly felt deafening. Kristina let out a small, embarrassed sigh and adjusted her grip on the shopping bag, giving it another shot.
CLICK!
Still nothing. Kristina's shoulders tensed slightly. Axel noticed how her fingers trembled against the metal. He didn't say a word; he just offered a soft, patient smile that somehow made her blush even more.
"It's been a long day, okay?" she muttered, trying again.
After some struggle, the lock finally turned.
Kristina exhaled in relief, pushing the door open and stepping inside. The bag of groceries rustled softly as she moved, and she set it down near the small kitchen counter. Then she paused, realizing Axel was still standing in the hallway.
He hadn't followed her in.
Axel stood there quietly, hands loosely at his sides, as if unsure whether he was welcome to cross the threshold. Kristina turned back to meet his gaze, and for a moment, she just stared.
Then she smiled, warm and gentle, with a hint of shyness.
"You can come in; you don't have to be scared," she said softly.
Axel hesitated for just a heartbeat longer… then stepped forward.
Axel stepped through the doorway slowly, as if he were entering a delicate space. The door clicked shut behind him, cutting off the quiet hallway and leaving them in the warm, soft glow of the apartment.
The room was simple yet inviting, with a small couch nestled against the wall, a low table piled with neatly arranged papers and books, and a single lamp on the corner table casting a gentle amber light throughout the area. A faint aroma of bread and herbs hung in the air.
Kristina moved to the counter and carefully set down the groceries, her hands still a bit unsteady. She paused for a moment to gather herself before turning back to him.
Axel lingered near the doorway, his hands resting loosely at his sides, his eyes quietly absorbing the scene.
"...It's nice. I mean, it's definitely more beautiful than those stark white walls I was always stuck behind," he said.
She offered a faint smile. "I wanted it to feel safe."
A comfortable silence enveloped them again, not awkward, but thick with unspoken words neither of them knew how to express just yet.
Finally, Kristina broke the silence, her voice soft.
"I was worried you wouldn't come."
Axel felt a tightness in his chest.
"I almost didn't, not because I didn't want to… but because I wasn't sure if I had the right to," he confessed.
Her brows furrowed slightly. "The right?"
He nodded slowly.
"Back there, if you remember… We weren't taught how to make choices. We were taught how to follow orders."
Kristina's fingers curled around the edge of the counter.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
He shook his head gently. "You don't need to be."
She hesitated for a moment, then motioned toward the couch. "You can sit, if you'd like."
Axel took a few careful steps forward and settled onto the edge of the couch, sitting up straight, as if unsure how relaxed he was allowed to be. Kristina observed him for a moment, noticing the way he sat and waited, and something quiet and painful stirred behind her eyes.
"…You don't have to be on guard here," she said softly.
He looked up at her.
"For tonight, you're safe," she added, her voice barely above a whisper.
Axel didn't respond right away, but he finally relaxed his shoulders. He exhaled slowly, releasing a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding since he walked in. His fingers curled lightly against his knees, then eased.
"…Safe," he repeated quietly, as if trying the word on for size.
Kristina moved to the small sink and poured two glasses of water. The gentle sound of liquid filling the cups was soothing, grounding. She carried one over and placed it on the table in front of him.
"Here," she said softly. "Drink."
He hesitated for a moment, then accepted it with both hands. The cool glass felt nice against his palms as he took a careful sip.
"…Thank you."
She returned to the counter, leaning against it slightly, watching him over the rim of her own glass. The silence between them wasn't empty; it was heavy with everything they hadn't said yet.
Finally, Axel spoke, his voice quiet but steady.
"I didn't know where to go when I left. All I had was your name and this address," he admitted.
Kristina's eyes softened.
"You actually kept it."
He nodded. "It was the only thing that felt real."
Her throat tightened, and she turned her face away for a moment, blinking back fresh tears.
"I thought I was doing the right thing, but after you left… I kept wondering if I had just thrown you into something even worse," she murmured.
"You didn't," Axel said immediately.
She glanced back at him, taken aback by the strength in his voice.
"The world can be strange and noisy, not to mention a bit confusing. But it's also stunning. It feels… alive. I'm really glad I got to see it."
Her breath hitched.
"…You truly mean that?"
He nodded once more.
"I'm so thankful I found you."
Kristina lowered her glass slowly, her hands shaking just a bit.
"You have no idea how much that means to me." she murmured.