Letting My Brother's Best Friend Take My V-Card

BACK TO REALITY JESS

The aircraft jerked again, a low rumble vibrating through the cabin, and I instinctively tightened my grip on the armrest. Outside the window, the clouds looked dense and grey, swirling as we descended, but i t was the sudden feeling in my chest that had me clutching the armrest with white-knuckled intensity.

"Do you think... do you think this was how they felt?" I murmured, my voice barely audible over the hum of the engines. "That first flicker of panic...

and then everything just....went down." I let out a shaky breath, the weight of those words hanging in the air between us. It wasn't something I thought I'd bring up here, but the sensation clawed at me, an unshakable

• whisper of fear.

Laura blinked, clearly taken aback, her eyes darting to mine with uncertainty. She pressed her lips together, searching for words, but I could tell she didn't have any comforting answers.

"I don't even want to imagine how scared they must have been," she finally said, her voice soft and steady. "I don't think I'd ever be able to..." She trailed off, glancing down, and for a moment, we sat in silence, both caught in our own thoughts. The plane lurched again, a steeper descent this

time, and I heard the murmur of nervous passengers around us. But Laura's hand reached over, wrapping around mine, grounding me. Her fingers squeezed reassuringly, and I took a deep breath, focusing on the warmth of her hand instead of the memories BACK TO REALITY

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pushing into my mind.

voice carrying al determination that helped settle

trying to match her confidence, but the feeling. lingered, gnawing at the edges of my

I could feel her eyes studying me. There was something else she wanted

surprised. "What about

cheeks coloring as she looked away, and for the first time since we'd taken off, a small smile tugged at her lips. "I...well, he thinks you're the most beautiful woman

doing half the time. And he thinks I'm be Laura laughed

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Jess. And you're... everything he

even think about it you know," I murmured, glancing out the window. The clouds had. started to thin, sunlight breaking through

deep breath, my gaze drifting to the edge of the armrest as I traced

above a whisper. "I'm broken. I'm grieving. And I know... I know I should be finding a way forward, putting the pieces back together. But I don't have that glimmer of light you seem to be finding. I wish I did. Laura's hand tightened over mine, and

expected, and a painful kind of understanding settled between us, the kind only shared by those who've lost someone they loved too much to ever let go. The hum of the plane faded, every noise blurring into the background. I reached fo shared silence, clinging to each other as-though letting go would send