The morning arrived quietly, almost too quietly, as if the city itself were holding its breath. Emma pulled her coat tight around her, the snow crunching underfoot as she made her way toward the small studio she’d rented for her winter project. The air was crisp, biting at her cheeks, carrying the faint scent of pine and smoke from nearby chimneys. She drew her scarf closer, wishing Liam could be here, wishing the distance between them wasn’t so relentless.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket. A message from Liam. She hesitated before unlocking it, her thumb hovering over the screen.
Morning, Em. I’ve been thinking… about us.
Her heart skipped. Not a simple “I love you,” but something heavier, something that demanded attention. She typed back quickly:
Me too. Can we talk tonight?
He replie
