CHAPTER 11: SLOW FIRE
211 Words
Healing didn’t happen overnight.
It came in pieces.
Small, quiet, unexpected moments.
Adrian didn’t call every day.
Didn’t demand her attention.
Didn’t control anything.
And somehow—
That affected her more than anything else.
⸻
One evening—
Elara sat in her office, exhausted.
A knock.
“Come in.”
Adrian.
Her heart reacted before her mind could stop it.
“I brought food,” he said simply.
She blinked. “You… what?”
“You haven’t eaten.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re lying.”
A pause.
Then—
“Leave it there,” she said.
He did.
No argument.
No smirk.
Just… calm.
As he turned to leave—
“Elara,” he said softly.
She looked up.
“I’m not here to take anything from you anymore.”
And then he left.
⸻
She stared at the food for a long time.
Before finally opening it.
It was raining again.
And somehow—
Rain always led her back to him.
This time, he didn’t ask questions when she showed up.
“You’re soaked,” he said.
“I know.”
“Come in.”
She stepped inside.
Silence wrapped around them.
But it wasn’t tense anymore.
Just… quiet.
“I don’t like this,” she admitted suddenly.
- Writer
