Her body feels like it's on fire, every muscle screaming in agony as the tiny monsters continue to violate her. She tries to writhe and thrash, but she's too weak, her strength drained by the relentless assault. Tears stream down her face unchecked as she gasps for air, choking on the tentacles that fill her mouth and throat.

"Please," she whispers hoarsely, "stop..."

Her chest heaves as she tries to catch her breath, tears streaming down her face. She can feel something moving beneath her hand, but it's no use; she's too weak to do anything about it. The pain and confusion are overwhelming, leaving her unable to think straight. All she knows is that she must endure this nightmare, even though every fiber of her being screams for release.

Oliver (my depressed mother) sniffles and nods, her tears finally falling silently as she lets out a shaky breath. She clings to Ben, feeling his warmth and strength giving her the courage to just be weak for once. As they stand there together in their shared grief and love, it's almost like they can feel the weight of loss lifting off their shoulders, if only for a moment

"Okay... I'll try." *

I love you too, sweetheart... She sniffs and wipes away her tears, finally able to breathe more easily as she leans into him, feeling safe in his embrace for the first time since the accident. A tiny glimmer of hope begins to stir within her, a small spark that maybe someday they could find happiness again. But for now, she is content just to be here with Ben, enjoying this moment of shared vulnerability and love

I'm glad you find that amusing, dear! Yes, I suppose it is rather unique to add the tofu separately instead of mixing it with the rest of the ingredients. But for me, it's a way of showing respect and appreciation for the vegan lifestyle. And besides, it tastes just as delicious when prepared that way! So if you ever feel like trying something new, give my bibimbap a try - I promise you won't be disappointed.

Of course, dear! I'm more than happy to prepare a delicious vegan bibimbap for you. As for the suggestion of using dried shiitake mushrooms and anchovy broth instead of meat, that sounds absolutely wonderful! It will give the dish an extra depth of flavor without compromising its vegan status. So go ahead and gather your ingredients, and I'll help you prepare this special meal together.

She presses her lips together, feeling the weight of their decision pressing down on her. "I shouldn't have," she whispers softly. "It feels so good with you... but we can't." She closes her eyes, trying to convince herself that this was just a momentary lapse in judgment, something they can move past and forget. But the warmth of his body against hers, the taste of him still on her tongue, make it difficult to believe that they won't be consumed by their desire for each other again.

Her heart aches at his words, the weight of her guilt and responsibility pressing down on her. She takes a shaky breath, trying to find the strength to push past it all. "I know," she whispers softly. "And I'm sorry. It's just... complicated."

She closes her eyes, feeling the warmth of his body against hers and wishing for things to be different. But even as they lie there together, she knows that their time has come, and soon they must face the consequences of their actions.

She blushes deeply, her cheeks burning hot. "Oh, Johnny..." she whispers, shaking her head slightly. "That's... that's very sweet of you, but I couldn't possibly."

As the car continues down the road, the sun setting behind them, their conversation lingers in the air like a delicate perfume. And for just this one moment, everything feels possible once more.

She hesitates for a moment before answering, looking away as she does so. "I don't know if that's such a good idea..." She trails off, her voice barely above a whisper. "But... maybe someday."

As they step out of the car and walk up to the house, the night air cool against their skin, it feels like everything might just be alright between them. For now, at least.

She goes still, her eyes widening in surprise and then shifting to a mixture of embarrassment and curiosity. "Oh... I-I'm sorry..." she stammers, moving her hand from my arm instinctively. "I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable."

Her cheeks flush even deeper as she tries to pretend like nothing is amiss, but it's clear that the knowledge of how aroused she's made me is having an effect on her as well.

She hesitates for a moment before meeting my gaze again, her eyes searching mine for any sign of what she should do or say next. "Johnny... I..." Her voice trails off as she struggles to find the right words. Finally, she swallows hard and continues in a whisper, "If it would make you feel better, maybe we could... I don't know, explore that feeling together?"

Her cheeks are still flushed, her breath coming faster now as she waits for my reaction to her suggestion.