Love Amidst Hidden Wounds; Desire Shadows

The city buzzed outside Lorena Matthews' small apartment like an incessant hive, a rhythm of chaos she had learned to tune out. Seated by her lone window, her gaze stretched over the blinking skyline of New York City, a view she couldn't afford but held onto as if it were her last tether to hope. The stars, dimmed by the city lights, still flickered faintly-just like her dreams.

Lorena sighed, her breath misting the glass as the late evening chill seeped through the cracks of the poorly insulated room. The hum of her tiny space heater barely held the cold at bay. She pulled her worn cardigan tighter, fingers lingering over a tear in the sleeve she hadn't bothered to mend. There were always more pressing matters-rent, food, and the relentless student loans that followed her like shadows. At 24, life felt more like survival than living.

Her reflection in the glass caught her attention: tired hazel eyes framed by unruly chestnut hair she'd hastily tied up before her double shift at the café earlier. Her face carried the kind of exhaustion that couldn't be masked by makeup. Yet, beyond the fatigue, there was something else-a spark. A stubborn, almost defiant glimmer of hope.

She said to herself, "I'll get through this," barely heard above the sirens and honking automobiles in the distance. Her thoughts were interrupted as her phone chimed. She reached for it on the cracked coffee table, the screen lighting up with a notification from her bank. Another overdraft. Her stomach sank, but she quickly swiped the message away. She couldn't deal with that tonight.

She allowed her thoughts to stray to the skies instead. She used to sit on her grandmother's roof as a youngster, thinking of adventures far from the quaint hamlet she had left behind and tracking constellations. Her grandmother's words, "You were born to shine, Lorena," had always been a comforting salve against life's uncertainties. However, her grandma was no longer with her, so Lorena had to face adulthood alone.

She was shocked and brought back to the present by a tap at the door. There was Mrs. Dawson, her neighbor, holding a platter covered in foil and grinning warmly.

With the lasagna plate in hand, the elder woman added, "I thought you might be hungry." Lorena's face reddened with appreciation. "Thank you, Mrs. Dawson. You didn't have to."

"Nonsense, sweetheart. You work too hard for too little. Don't forget to take care of yourself," Mrs. Dawson said, her tone both gentle and firm.

Lorena nodded, her throat tightening. The kindness felt almost overwhelming in her current state of mind. She closed the door and sat back at the window, savoring the first real meal she'd had all week. Each bite tasted like comfort and fleeting relief.

She worked in a café, which was everything but glamorous. An varied mix of customers carried on through the afternoons, while impatient commuters demanded their caffeine fix in the mornings. Everything had been the same today, save for him.

The man who had in right before closing caught her attention.

His tall stature and well-tailored suit clung to his wide frame with an air of effortless richness. Although his dark hair was perfectly styled, she was taken aback by his eyes, which were piercing, harsh, and uncompromising. He had walked through the café with such assurance that the normal conversation had been muffled, as though the air itself had changed to make room for him. He had said, "Pardon me," in a smooth, deep voice. like velvet covering steel.

Lorena had been holding a coffee pot and had almost dropped it. "Y-yes? In what way may I assist you?

His mouth twitched into a little smile. Please, black coffee. Absent sugar.

She felt self-conscious as she poured him coffee, her hands trembling a little under the intensity of his eyes. None of the many clients she had served over the years had disturbed her as much as this one.

The silence had been broken by his question, "Hard night?"

Lorena looked up, startled. His inquiry seemed sincere, unlike the typical small talk that patrons would throw at her.

"It's been a long day," she said half-heartedly.

He seemed to comprehend more than she had stated, as he nodded. "Remain calm." The brightest stars might occasionally appear on the darkest evenings.

Long after he had left, the words continued to linger, his cologne's subtle scent still permeating the air. Something about him felt... important, even if she didn't even know his name.

Once back in her flat, Lorena rested her head against the windowpane and put the empty plate aside. Her own faith in the stars and their promise of a brighter future was echoed by the stranger's remarks, she reflected.

But who was he? A entrepreneur? A tourist just dropping in? What had made him appear so... familiar? She dismissed the idea by shaking her head. She was acting ridiculously. There was nothing more to him than another consumer.

However, her thoughts would not let go of the experience when she climbed into bed that night. For the first time in weeks, she fantasized of a life outside her small apartment, not of past-due debts or another tough shift. Her stars finally aligned in her life.

She was met with the city's typical clamor the following morning. Through her flimsy coat, the cold hurt her as she walked to work. Her breath caught as she walked toward the café.

There he was. As calm and imposing as the previous evening, they stood by the door.

His warm voice sent a chill down her spine as he replied, "Good morning, Miss Matthews."

Her heart was racing when she questioned, "How do you know my name?" With a tinge of malice in his eyes, his smile grew wider. Remember what you told me last night? I'm Alexander Steele.

She felt her world tilt a little. Steele Alexander. Although she couldn't place it, the name sounded familiar. She forced herself to seem composed in spite of the raging questions inside of her.

"Well, Mr. Steele, may I get you another coffee?" she inquired.

"Not today," he said in a mysterious tone. "I have another purpose for being here today."

Lorena's brows went down. What are you saying?

His eyes met hers for a second more before he turned and left, leaving her with more questions than answers. "You'll find out soon enough," he murmured.

It was a hazy rest of the day. Despite her inability to decide whether to be happy or afraid, Lorena couldn't get rid of the feeling that her life was about to change.

That night, as she lay in bed and gazed out her window at the stars, a peculiar feeling of anticipation filled her chest. For better or worse, she knew that her life would never be the same after Alexander Steele joined it.