Page 189 of His Reckoning

The room is quiet for a second.

Then she asks gently, “Why did you write him like that?”

The question lands differently this time. Not accusatory, just … honest.

I look down at my hands for a moment, then back up at her. “Because I’ve never met anyone like him.”

Melissa’s brow lifts slightly. “Explain.”

I shake my head a little, trying to find the best way to explain it. “It’s not just what he went through.” My voice softens. “It’s what he did after.”

She leans forward slightly, listening.

“He didn’t let it destroy him,” I continue. “He didn’t fall apart. He didn’t become bitter or cruel or—” I stop, exhaling. “He built something.” My chest tightens again. “An entire life. A company. A future.”

Melissa nods slowly. “And?”

“And he still carries it.” My voice drops. “Every day. The control. The distance. The way he keeps everything locked down so no one can ever hurt him again.”

I shake my head. “I didn’t see that as weakness.” I meet her eyes. “I saw it as strength.”

The words land solid this time.

Melissa studies me. “Go on.”

“I wrote a man who survived something terrible,” I say. “A man who should’ve been broken … but wasn’t.”

“A man who still chose to build something instead of letting it destroy him.”

Silence fills the room.

“I didn’t want to tell his story.”

Melissa’s voice is quiet. “Then what did you want?”

I hold her gaze. “I wanted to write what I see when I look at him.”

She waits, and I finally say it. “I’ve never met anyone stronger than Sawyer.”

Melissa exhales slowly. “Yeah,” she says, “that tracks.”

I let out a weak breath. “But he doesn’t see it that way.”

“No,” she agrees, “he wouldn’t.”

I shake my head. “He thinks I exposed him.”

Melissa’s expression softens. “He thinks you saw his worst parts and put them on display?”

I nod. “Yeah.”

“But that’s not what you did?” she says.

I swallow. “No.”

“What did you do then?”

I hesitate for half a second. “I saw the best parts of him.” My voice is steady now. “Even if he doesn’t.”