JAKE
As Amelia closed the door behind her, I stood there, watching the space she’d just occupied, feeling an unexpected ache settle in my chest. It wasn’t something I could explain, but there it was—a pull, a lingering feeling as if I wanted her to come back and look at me just one more time. Why? I’d never thought of Amelia like this before, so why did it feel like something was missing as soon as she left?
"Jake?" Bernard’s voice broke through my thoughts. "Something on your mind?"
I cleared my throat and looked away, trying to shake off the strange feeling. “No, nothing.” My tone was flat, casual, but even as I spoke, the weight of the moment with Amelia refused to fade. I forced myself to focus on Bernard, pushing down the emotions that seemed determined to rise to the surface.
