d under Aria's p

r name curled in ink, how the words seemed to whisper even after she'd folded the paper. It

wasn't

written th

placed it in h

ut alert. She checked the window again. Locked. Untouched. No footprin

mming - a sure sign she hadn't noticed anything unusual. Aria didn't mention the

hold onto it a

while her mind wandered. Every delivery customer suddenly became a sus

larke** walked

ind him like a forgotten thought. He didn't come into the shop. He never did. But eve

ng waves, clouds, and sometimes peop

be from the mist, and he had that faraway look

oken ten words to

is morning, her heart s

nds, and Aria stood behind the counter, rearranging wildflow

apron, scribbled

water and the distant creak of docked boats. Gul

ged on the wide stone steps, sketchbook b

ached, the

as she

to talk to him. No excuse. But the wor

ea again?" she

t look up.

waiting. After a mom

olor of overcast sk

once," he said. "

hy

oo much. Or

m, trying not to look like he

before, haven't

dn't

e corner of hi

"That's no

ook and closed it. "What b

ke he had written i

eath c

at him ca

it

d it

d air,"

azing back a

uncomfortable. It felt like they were

after a fe

"good luck with th

ut he looked at he

to bed, Aria climbed to her room with a strange flutt

o

cked th

pt

ntment c

been a one-time myste

and got into bed, curl

a s

o

e p

sa

ting just inside t

nd unfolded it qui

But I understand. I have no right to envy the s

d the letter

o be afraid, thrilled, or

s this: the let

g - not to harm her, but to hold he