Unspoken Words

As they pulled away from each other, Jasmine noticed that Hailey's eyes still seemed troubled, and her brow was furrowed in concern. "Hey, is everything okay?" Jasmine asked, her voice soft and gentle. Hailey nodded, but Jasmine could tell that she wasn't being entirely honest. "You can tell me, Hailey," Jasmine said, her eyes locked on Hailey's. "What's on your mind?" Hailey took a deep breath, and her eyes dropped to the floor. "It's just...what I said the other night," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Jasmine's heart skipped a beat as she remembered the hurtful words that Hailey had spoken. "You said you hated me," Jasmine said, trying to keep her voice even. Hailey's eyes snapped back up to Jasmine's, and she looked like she was about to cry again. "I didn't mean it, Jas," she said, her voice cracking. "I was so angry and hurt, and I didn't know what else to say." Jasmine felt a pang of sadness, but she tried to understand. "Why did you say it, then?" she asked, her voice gentle. Hailey shook her head, and tears began to well up in her eyes again. "I don't know," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I was in a dark place, and I lashed out. But I don't hate you, Jas. I love you." Jasmine's heart went out to her partner, and she reached out, taking Hailey's hand in hers. "I love you too," she said, her voice filled with emotion. "But you have to know that your words hurt me. They hurt me a lot." Hailey's eyes filled with tears, and she pulled Jasmine into a tight hug. "I'm so sorry, Jas," she whispered, her voice muffled against Jasmine's shoulder. "I don't know what I would do without you." As they hugged, Jasmine felt a sense of relief wash over her. She knew that they still had a long way to go, but she was grateful that Hailey was willing to face her demons and work through their issues. But as they pulled away from each other, Jasmine noticed that Hailey's eyes still seemed troubled. "What's still bothering you?" Jasmine asked, her eyes locked on Hailey's. Hailey took a deep breath, and her eyes dropped to the floor again. "It's just...I don't know if I can forgive myself for what I said," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Jasmine's heart went out to her partner, and she reached out, gently lifting Hailey's chin. "You need to forgive yourself," she said, her voice firm but gentle. "You need to know that you are loved and forgiven."