I had refused to go straight to the point, beating around the bush and leaving Rebecca confused. “You have been a nice man. I can’t doubt that; I am a testimony. But please, I would like us to spend some time together before going to bed. It has been a while,” she said, her eyes filled with longing.

Unbeknownst to us, Norah was peeping from the door, her heart pounding with fear that I might expose her. She had been on edge ever since our conversation, worried that Rebecca would find out about her feelings for me. As she watched us, her anxiety grew, and she could barely breathe.

I...