The next morning, golden sunlight spilled over Clara as she slowly blinked awake, lingering in that hazy space between sleep and wakefulness.
A note on the nightstand caught her eye—its bold, elegant strokes unmistakably James's handwriting.
"An issue came up at the City B branch. I'll be away for two days. Take care of yourself, and wait for me. —James"
Clara's fingers trembled slightly as she held the paper, a quiet pang of loneliness settling in her chest.
They'd only just gotten together, and already they had to part…
The realization hit her like a splash of cold water: Were she and James really "together" now?
Memories of the previous night flooded back—as vivid as a dream yet etched into her memory with crystalline clarity.
James had confessed his feelings. Just "like"? The wo
