Chapter 6: A New Kind of Quiet
The weeks that followed felt different—softer, in a way, but also more intense. Emma found herself spending more time with Lucas, each visit to the gallery and every quiet conversation becoming a step closer to something she hadn't expected to find. They still took things slow, but each moment spent together felt like a small piece of the puzzle falling into place.
For Emma, the transition wasn't easy. There were still moments when she felt the familiar pull to retreat, to hide behind her carefully constructed walls. But with Lucas, there was something about the way he allowed her to be herself, flaws and all, that made her want to try harder.
She had always believed that solitude was a form of strength, but now, as she spent time with him, she realized that true strength might actually lie in opening up—sharing not just the highlights of her life, but also the quiet, vulnerable pieces that had been hidden for so long.
It was late one Thursday evening when Emma received a call from Lucas. She had been finishing up some work, her laptop open in front of her, when her phone lit up.