Behind The Silence

Behind the Silence Chapter One: The Girl Who Never Smiled The rain fell heavily over the city as Ava Williams hurried along the sidewalk, clutching her books against her chest. She hated rainy days. They reminded her of the night everything changed. At twenty-three, Ava had learned that life was not a fairy tale. Her father had died when she was sixteen, leaving her mother to struggle with debts and endless responsibilities. Since then, Ava had buried her dreams beneath reality. She worked at a small publishing company during the day and attended evening classes at night. There was little time for friends, laughter, or love. As she reached the entrance of her office building, she collided with someone. Her books scattered across the wet pavement. "Oh, I'm sorry," a deep voice said. Ava looked up. The man standing before her was tall, well dressed, and annoyingly handsome. His dark eyes met hers with genuine concern. He bent down and helped gather her books. "Thank you," Ava said quietly. "You should be more careful." She frowned. "Excuse me?" A smile appeared on his face. "I'm joking." For the first time that day, Ava almost smiled. Almost. The stranger handed her the last book. "I'm Ethan Carter." "Ava." "Just Ava?" "That's enough information for a stranger." Ethan laughed. Most people would have been offended, but somehow he seemed amused. Before either of them could say another word, Ava's phone rang. Her mother's name flashed on the screen. Immediately, her heart tightened. "Sorry, I have to go." She rushed into the building without looking back. Ethan watched her disappear through the glass doors. Something about her intrigued him. Maybe it was the sadness hidden behind her eyes. Or maybe it was the fact that she seemed completely uninterested in him—a rarity for someone used to attention. Whatever the reason, he couldn't stop thinking about her. And neither of them knew that this accidental meeting was about to change their lives forever.