red to life one by one, casting a warm glow over the cobblestones, and somewhere in the distance a radio played a soft, nostalgic tune. They walked slo

ng on the bookstore's back steps. Nicholas mentioned the lake and how still it had been earlier that day,

onversation, emotion sti

ily said quietly,

anced at he

ied, meeting h

d to soften, the world narrowing to the space they shared. For a long mo

he said at last. "Mo

rushing now and then. Each accidental touch sent a spark through Lily, g

esitated at the door. "Would you like t

nodded. "

r. Shadows danced along the shelves, and the familiar scent of paper and wood wrapped around

Lily poured them each a cup of tea from the kettle she'd left warm, and they settled into the r

n comfortable silence,

t what you said," Nichol

encouraging h

yself that restraint was the same as responsibility. But my father... th

ng, resting her hand gently over his. He inhaled sharp

olas continued. "And I don't want to lose w

and overwhelming. "I don't need perfection

r hand. "I can

Slowly, Nicholas lifted his free hand to brush a loose strand of hair from L

aned i

ersation finding its rhythm. Lily felt the world tilt, felt the careful walls she'd built s

thless, Lily rested her forehead against

ind of smile that reac

closeness, until the kettle clicked off in the backg

led softly. "R

he sound light and

f how she'd learned to find comfort in solitude after being disappointed once too often. Nicholas shared stories of

of laughter, moments where words fail

ed at the clock and sighed

d bend a little more in their favor. They walked

rned to her. "Tomorrow," he s

t very much,"

epped out into the night. Lily watched him go, her

d at the window, looking out over the quiet town. The streetlights gl

Lily didn't feel like she was standi

e she had st

nd, she understood something important: love didn't always a

softly, patient, hone

last, was rea