A Day in the Life of Amy

Fiona’s eyes searched Amy’s face, the weight of silence hanging between them. Max shifted at Amy’s side, but even his quiet presence couldn’t ease the pressure building in the room.

Finally, Fiona spoke, her voice low but unflinching.

“Amy, I can’t keep being the secret you hide when the world starts whispering. I won’t.”

Amy blinked, her throat tightening. “It’s not that I don’t want this—”

“Then what is it?” Fiona cut in, her tone sharper now. She pushed herself to her feet and began pacing, curls bouncing with every step. “Is it Rose? Your mom? Mark? Napa’s gossip mill?” She stopped suddenly, turning back to her. “Because all of those people already think they know you. But I’m the one here, in this room, with you. I’m the one who sees you.”

Amy’s eyes stung. “Fiona, it’s not that simple—”

“It *is* that simple.” Fiona’s voice softened, but the steel in it remained. She knelt back down in front of Amy, her hands hovering over Amy’s knees but not touching, like she was waiting for permission. “You either want this—want *us*—or you don’t. But if you do, you can’t keep hiding me. You can’t keep hiding yourself.”

Amy’s chest rose and fell in uneven breaths. The fear, the shame, the voices of her mother, of Rose, of the town—they all pressed in at once. But so did Fiona’s presence: unwavering, fierce, alive.

Fiona’s voice broke the storm of thoughts. “I need you to choose me with the same fire I’m choosing you. Not halfway. Not in the shadows. Out loud. Or we’ll both burn out trying to live in between.”

The words struck deep, carving through Amy’s hesitation like glass. She wanted to protest, to retreat—but when she looked into Fiona’s eyes, she saw no malice, only truth. And love. A love that deserved more than half measures.

Amy’s lips parted, trembling. “Fiona, I… I’m scared.”

Fiona exhaled, a small, pained smile tugging at her mouth. “So am I. But love worth anything will always be scary.” She reached up then, brushing a strand of hair from Amy’s cheek. “The question is—are you brave enough to stop running?”