The house was silent as the evening settled in. Alex sat in the living room, a book open on his lap, though he hadn't turned a page in nearly ten minutes. His mind was elsewhere, thinking about the day he'd spent with Maria. Each moment, each shared glance, seemed to mean more lately, and he found himself drawn to her in ways he hadn't before.
Maria walked in, a soft smile lighting up her face as she noticed him lost in thought. "Mind if I join you?" she asked, holding a mug of tea.
"Of course," Alex replied, his voice warm. She settled onto the couch next to him, the comforting scent of her tea filling the air between them. They sat in companionable silence for a while, the kind of quiet that was comfortable and familiar.
After a moment, Maria looked over at him, her gaze soft and thoughtful. "You've been really thoughtful lately. Are you okay?"
Alex smiled slightly, appreciating how well she understood him. "I think I'm just… figuring things out," he admitted. "Sometimes I feel like everything's changing so fast. But when I'm with you, it all just feels… right."
Maria reached over, placing a hand on his. "You're not alone, Alex. I'm here, no matter what."
They looked at each other, an unspoken bond passing between them. Maria's hand lingered on his, and Alex found himself drawn into her gaze. There was something deeply comforting about her presence, something he couldn't quite put into words but felt profoundly.
The evening slipped by with quiet laughter and shared stories. They talked about memories of their favorite moments, dreams they'd never shared before, and little hopes for the future.
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