Aaron understood something now that he hadn’t before.
Words meant nothing.
Not after everything.
⸻
So he stopped talking.
And started doing.
⸻
The next morning—
Elara opened her bedroom door and paused.
⸻
A bouquet sat neatly outside.
⸻
Not overly dramatic.
Not extravagant.
⸻
Carefully chosen.
Soft colors.
Elegant.
⸻
No note.
⸻
She stared at it for a moment.
⸻
Then picked it up.
⸻
Maya appeared behind her almost instantly.
⸻
“Oh?” she said, folding her arms with interest. “We’ve moved from insults to flowers now?”
⸻
Elara exhaled quietly.
⸻
“He’s trying,” Maya added.
⸻
Elara didn’t respond.
⸻
But she didn’t throw the flowers away either.
⸻
⸻
By the afternoon—
There was another attempt.
⸻
Aaron stood in the living room when Elara came downstairs.
⸻
