Chapter 15 Almost Words
275 Words
The next morning, Aurora woke with shadows under her eyes—and noticed, when she stepped into the kitchen, that Lucian looked just as tired as she felt. Both of them carried the same quiet exhaustion, as if neither had truly slept.
She lingered over breakfast, fingers tracing patterns on her mug, quietly replaying the previous night in her mind.
The kitchen was unusually quiet. Lucian sat across from her, stirring his coffee in silence. Now and then, their eyes met above the rim of their cups, but neither seemed to know what to say. Every time one of them seemed about to speak, the words faded before reaching the air.
After breakfast, they prepared to leave for their own routines. As Aurora reached for her bag, their hands brushed, lingering a second longer than necessary.
Lucian’s voice was low, almost hesitant. “Did you sleep well?”
Aurora met his gaze. “Not really. I kept thinking about… things.”
Lucian’s lips twitched into a faint smile. “Me too.”
They walked to the door together, a careful distance kept between them, both pretending not to notice how hard it was to let go of that moment.
Before Aurora left, Lucian finally spoke—soft, almost hopeful:
“If you need anything, just call. Anytime.”
She hesitated, then nodded, holding his gaze for a heartbeat longer than usual.
“Okay.”
As Aurora left, Lucian watched her go, a hundred unsaid words caught in his throat. In the quiet apartment, he let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding.
Maybe tonight, he thought, I’ll have the courage to say more.
- Writer
