The following week brought with it a crisp breeze that signaled the true arrival of autumn. The air was brisk, carrying the scent of pine and damp earth. Maple Grove had started to change, not just in its landscape, but in the way Evelyn began to see it. She found herself coming alive in ways she hadn't expected, her writing flowing more freely as she walked the town's quiet streets, taking in every detail—the weathered benches, the ivy crawling up the brick buildings, the way the sunset painted the sky in hues of lavender and orange.
It was on one such evening, when the sky was beginning to darken and the first stars of the evening blinked into existence, that she ran into James again.
This time, it wasn't in the forest or by the river, but outside Willow & Co. Books. Evelyn had been sorting through a pile of novels in the bookstore when she spotted James standing near the door, his hands shoved in his coat pockets, his gaze distant as he watched the twinkling lights of the square.
"Evening," he said when he noticed her approaching. His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it, something unspoken that tugged at the air between them.
Evelyn smiled as she stepped out onto the sidewalk beside him. "You look like you're deep in thought."
James chuckled, but it lacked the usual warmth. "Just thinking about how small this town feels sometimes. Like you know everyone, but no one really knows you."
Evelyn looked at him, intrigued. "I don't think you're the type to keep things to yourself," she teased, trying to lighten the mood.
He gave her a half-smile, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I'm not, but sometimes... you just want to be alone with your thoughts."
She could sense the distance in his tone. It wasn't the playful, easygoing James she'd come to know over the past few weeks. Instead, it was someone guarded, someone trying to hold onto something but unsure of how much to share.
"I get that," Evelyn said, her voice soft. "Sometimes it's easier to be alone. Especially when everything around you seems... too much."
James glanced at her, his eyes flickering with a mix of surprise and something else she couldn't quite place. He took a step closer, his expression shifting, as if he was weighing something in his mind.
"You ever feel like you're carrying something no one can see?" he asked, his voice low, almost a whisper. "Like there's something heavy that no one can help you carry, but you have to carry it anyway?"
Evelyn's heart skipped a beat. His words hit too close to home. She wanted to ask him what he meant, to press him for more, but she held back. Something told her that pushing would only make him retreat further into himself.
Instead, she nodded slowly. "I think we all carry something like that."
James didn't respond immediately. He simply stared ahead, his brow furrowing as if he were lost in a thought that was miles away from her.
Evelyn wasn't sure how long they stood there in silence, watching the lights of the town flicker on as dusk settled in. A couple passed by them, laughing softly, their voices blending into the quiet hum of the evening. The world felt suspended for a moment, as if time itself had slowed down to match the stillness between them.
Finally, James turned to her, his gaze softer now, but still distant. "I'm sorry," he said, his voice almost apologetic. "I don't mean to be so... heavy. I guess I've been thinking a lot about things lately."
Evelyn smiled gently, not wanting to push him but also not wanting him to retreat further. "You don't have to apologize. I get it."
For a long moment, James didn't say anything. Instead, he looked at her with a quiet intensity, as if trying to decide whether or not to let her in. Evelyn held his gaze, hoping that one day, he would trust her enough to share whatever it was that haunted him.
Finally, he broke the silence, his voice softer than before. "I guess I'm just not sure what I'm doing with my life anymore."
Evelyn frowned, unsure of how to respond. "What do you mean?"
James sighed, raking a hand through his hair as he looked down at the ground. "I don't know. I used to think I had it all figured out—what I wanted, where I was going. But lately, it feels like I'm just going through the motions, pretending everything is fine when it's not."
Evelyn felt a pang of empathy, sensing that there was more he wasn't saying. "Is that why you spend so much time alone? Trying to figure it out?"
James nodded, his eyes filled with a sadness that made Evelyn's heart ache. "Maybe. Or maybe because it's easier to hide from things than face them."
Evelyn hesitated for a moment before speaking, her voice gentle. "I think... I think sometimes, facing things makes them smaller. Like they lose their power over you when you finally talk about them."
James was quiet for a long moment, his eyes searching hers. Finally, he exhaled slowly. "Maybe you're right. Maybe I've been hiding for too long."
Just as she was about to respond, the sound of a phone vibrating in his pocket broke the silence. James pulled it out, glancing at the screen before putting it back into his pocket with a sigh.
"Sorry," he said, offering her a faint smile. "I should go. I'm meeting someone in a bit."
Evelyn nodded, sensing that the conversation was coming to a close. She wanted to say something more, something to make him feel better, but she didn't have the words. She only hoped that one day, he would open up to her completely.
"Take care of yourself, James," she said softly. "And if you ever need to talk, I'm here."
He looked at her for a long moment, his gaze softening. Then, in a quiet voice, he said, "Thanks, Evelyn. I appreciate it."
And with that, he turned and walked away, disappearing into the cool night air.
Evelyn stood there for a moment, watching him go, her heart heavy with the weight of what she hadn't yet been able to reach. She wanted to help him, to ease whatever burden he carried, but she knew it would take time. All she could do was be patient and hope that, one day, James would let her in.
As she made her way back to her apartment, the chill of the evening settled around her. The words they'd shared lingered in her mind, and she couldn't shake the feeling that James was holding onto something far more painful than he was willing to show. But she couldn't force him to open up. She could only wait, and hope, that when he was ready, he would let her help him carry whatever it was that weighed him down.