Two weeks after Daniel’s cooking gift arrived, their conversations had evolved beyond just Emma. It started small—Daniel asking how Kassie’s work was going, mentioning a photography exhibit he’d seen that reminded him of her style. But gradually, their messages became longer, more personal, touching on subjects they hadn’t discussed in five years.
*I saw a sunrise this morning that was the exact shade of orange you always said was impossible to capture in photos,* Daniel wrote one Thursday evening. *I thought about you trying to explain to me why golden hour was so important.*
Kassie stared at the message, her heart doing the familiar flutter that had been happening more frequently during their exchanges. She remembered those conversations about light and shadow, how Daniel would listen
