Chapter 7- Shadows and Lights
365 Words
Luca
The night was quieter than usual, the Milan hum softened by a rare breeze. Élise had just told him about a favorite childhood memory—sunshine and laughter—and he realized he wanted to share his own, even if it made him vulnerable.
He hesitated. Then typed:
“There’s something I don’t usually say... but I think you should know.”
He pressed send.
His fingers trembled slightly.
“When I was younger, I lost someone very close to me. It was sudden. It changed how I see the world.”
Élise replied quickly:
“I’m here. Tell me when you’re ready.”
Luca took a deep breath.
“After that, I built walls. I told myself never to get too close again. To avoid the pain. But with you, those walls are falling. And that scares me more than anything.”
He waited.
The reply came, soft and warm:
“Thank you for trusting me. I won’t let you face the fear alone.”
For the first time, Luca felt something light inside him—a hope that maybe, together, they could heal.
Élise
His message stayed with her—echoed in her chest long after the screen dimmed.
She had known Luca was carrying weight. But hearing him admit it, open like that... it touched something deep inside her. A familiar ache.
Her fingers hovered over the keyboard.
“Can I tell you something too?”
She stared at the blinking cursor, heart racing.
“There’s a reason I moved away from France. It wasn’t just work, or the adventure. It was escape.”
“My mom was very sick. I spent years taking care of her. I don’t regret it, but when she passed, I felt... lost. Like I didn’t know who I was without her. Paris became a shadow.”
A tear rolled down her cheek as she typed.
“So I ran. Hoping to find myself. But instead… I found you.”
Her thumb hovered, then pressed send.
There was no reply yet—but she wasn’t afraid. Because even across time zones and screens, she felt it—what they were building.
Not just romance. But refuge.
- Writer
