Aurelia's comforting presence and the sincerity in her eyes made me feel a flicker of hope. As she held my hands, I felt a sense of warmth and reassurance that had been missing for days.
"Lydia," Aurelia began softly, "I know things seem bleak right now, but we need to take a break. You need to relax and clear your mind. How about we go out and have a little date?"
I hesitated, the weight of the day's disappointments still pressing heavily on me. "I don't know, Aurelia. There's so much to do, and I feel like I'm running out of time."
She smiled, a mixture of tenderness and determination in her expression. "That's exactly why you need a break. You can't make good decisions when you're stressed and exhausted. Let's take a few hours, just the two of us. We can explore the town, have a nice meal, and come back refreshed."
