ack did not

say, That was when everything changed. Instead, it crept in quietly, disguising itself as thoughtfuln

ed through the windows, casting long shadows across the wooden floor. Nicholas sat in the reading nook, a

a hole through that pa

en smiled. "Sorry. I didn'

itten anything,

t I'm trying to s

y. "That usually means i

tebook, exhaling

red longer than

d once lived. Nicholas was still kind, still attentive, but something in him felt guarded

they walked through town,

tacted me,

ded heavily i

continued. "She asked if we c

orcing her voice to remain st

-and that pause to

eed to," he

g above the bookstore. Her thoughts refused to settle. She told herself sh

ng, Nicholas stil

g, his expression was distant, as though he were carryi

rom each other in

it go?" L

hands together. "It

tightened. "

re together. For pushing when she should've listened. And I re

d. "Do you st

en, more quietly, "But I stil

. "And what does

again-and this ti

feels deeper than anything I've known

ike distance dis

someone by leaving,

don't want to promise what

d between them,

. "I need

blurred the town lights as memories resurfaced,past loves that had asked

done tha

lost herse

, Lily didn't op

noticed i

lights dark. Panic twisted in his ches

th

replaying every conversation, every hesitation. He realized too lat

watching ripples spread across the wate

thing he needed

hing he need

as went to Lily's ap

door, her eyes wer

said immediately. "I'm here to tell yo

m carefully. "

, I lose something real," he said. "An

arms. "I won'

aid. "And I wo

is the last time I let someone

I'm not walk

stepped in

lowbrook rem

d been

time, i