The soft murmur of the city below was barely audible in the room, yet its energy seemed to seep into the corners of the quiet space. Malia sat by the window, staring out at the sprawling lights of the city, her thoughts far from the world outside. It was late—too late for most, but not for her. The night had a way of making everything feel more real, more raw. There was something in the stillness that allowed her to finally let her guard down, if only for a moment.
Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts—so many questions, so many unanswered emotions. Nixus. Their complicated history. The choices they had both made. The trust that had been broken and, perhaps, the hope of rebuilding it. She couldn't deny that everything was different now. Everything had changed, and yet, the old feelings, the ones she'd tried to bury, were slowly resurfacing.
