"A Change of Heart"

As I stood in the silence that followed my confession, I saw the mixture of emotions playing on Erwin's face. I had expected him to be angry or hurt, but instead, he looked... sad. Like he had lost something precious. "Erwin, I'm so sorry," I said again, feeling a pang of regret. He shook his head, his eyes never leaving mine. "You don't have to apologize, Kenzy. You have to follow your heart." I took a step closer to him, my heart racing with a newfound determination. "Erwin, can I tell you something?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. He nodded, his eyes locked on mine. "I've been thinking a lot about my feelings, and I realized that I was wrong," I said, my voice shaking slightly. "I don't want to be with Captain Levi. I want to be with you." Erwin's expression didn't change, and for a moment, I thought I had misread the situation entirely. But then, a glimmer of hope appeared in his eyes. "What are you saying, Kenzy?" he asked, his voice low and gentle. I took a deep breath, my heart pounding in my chest. "I'm saying that I love you, Erwin. I love you more than I love Captain Levi. I want to be with you, to explore this new world with you, to fight alongside you." Erwin's face softened, and he took a step closer to me. "Kenzy, I...I don't know what to say," he said, his voice filled with emotion. I reached out, my hands trembling as I touched his face. "You don't have to say anything, Erwin. Just know that I mean it. I want to be with you, to love you, to be your partner in every sense of the word." Erwin's eyes locked on mine, and I saw the emotion welling up in them. He took a deep breath, and then, in a movement that was almost tender, he wrapped his arms around me, pulling me close. "Kenzy," he whispered, his voice filled with emotion. "I love you too." I felt a rush of happiness as his lips touched mine, sending shivers down my spine. I knew in that moment that I had made the right decision. I was exactly where I was meant to be.