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    Sienna’s POV


    I thought again of Sarah’s words—that I had to find what I was looking for. At first, I’dughed at the idea. I didn’t think I was searching for anything. But now I realized-maybe I was searching for a home. Not a


    building, but a ce where I felt enough, where I felt epted.


    Even if that ce was within myself.


    My feet brought me to a small park, not far from my rented apartment. I sat on a wooden bench under a


    mboyant tree. Its leaves drifted down softly, like time falling one piece at a time. Children ran nearby, their


    I looked up at the sky. The color had started to change. Dusk crept in slowly, like a promise that never failed to


    them away all at once. I didn’t have to heal today either.


    A small smile tugged at my lips. Maybe, I’ll start writing again. Not to escape the pain, but to embrace it.


    Maybe I don’t need to find the answer right away. What matters is that I’ve started to look. Not in a rush, but


    with honesty-even if that honesty is still filled with doubt.


    Even if Liam no longer searches for me, I still have myself. And for today, that’s enough.


    Above me,


    the sky gradually shifted from soft blue to golden orange. The evening light spilled across the


    surface of the smallke in front of me, casting reflections that moved gently like a held breath. Thete-day


    breeze swept through my hair, carrying the damp scent of sun-warmed grass. I sat still, letting time without guilt.


    pass


    The sounds of life in the distance-cars passing, childrenughing in the park across the street, birds returning to their nests-were all present, yet none of them truly disturbed my quiet. Not today. Today, I chose to be still. And just being still already felt exhausting.


    There was still an ache in my chest, like a shadow refusing to leave. But it wasn’t as sharp as this morning. Not as loud asst night. The wound remained, but it no longer demanded my attention. Perhaps because I had stopped resisting it. Stopped denying that I was hurt. That I was disappointed. That I felt abandoned.


    I shifted my seat, folding my legs onto the park bench. Now and then, people passed by, but no one stared too long. No one asked why I was alone. It was as if the world was giving me space to breathe, and for that, I was


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    grateful.


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    In my small bag was an empty notebook I hadn’t touched in ages. But somehow, my hands itched to open it again. Not to write stories about perfect love or dramatic heartbreaks. Just the story of a woman learning to ept reality, one day at a time.


    I don’t know what tomorrow will look like-whether I’ll cry again orugh over something small. But for today,


    I know I’m okay. Not perfect. Just enough.


    ***


    The restaurant hadn’t changed much. The familiar scent of chicken soup and toasted bread still lingered, just


    like thest time I came here with Liliana months ago. Its warm atmosphere wrapped around me like a long-


    awaited hug. But the mostforting thing of all was seeing Liliana rise from her seat and rush toward me.


    Without saying a word, she pulled me into a tight hug. It was warm, filled with worry, andced with the kind of


    anger that had long since softened into longing. I hugged her back, holding my breath so I wouldn’t fall apart in


    her arms.


    “Sienna…” she whispered. She pulled back slightly to look at me, her eyes scanning my face. “Oh my God,


    where have you been? You’ve lost weight! Are you sick?”


    I exhaled quietly, feeling a little awkward as I noticed a few curious nces from other diners. “Liliana, one question at a time, please. Can we sit first?” I replied with a faint smile.


    We walked to a table by the window. Liliana kept ncing at me, still in disbelief that I was finally here. When


    the waiter came, I immediately ordered our favorite dishes.


    Once he left, she looked at me again, a little calmer now, though her eyes were still full of questions.


    “So… where have you been all this time, Sienna? Why did you disappear like that?”


    I took a deep breath before answering softly, “I’ve been staying on the edge of the city, near the coast. In a small ce. I needed space to breathe. I needed distance from everything.”


    Liliana closed her eyes for a second, then exhaled in relief. “At least you’re okay. I thought you went abroad or something. Sienna, you have no idea how stressed I was trying to figure out what happened to you.”


    I gave her a weak smile. “I’m sorry, I know I made you worry.”


    She shook her head, then took my cold hand in hers. “What matters is–you’re here now.”


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    I lowered my gaze, letting the warmth of her touch melt a bit of the guilt I carried. Then I looked up at her


    gently.


    “And you? How have you been?” I asked.


    She smiled-and finally, the familiar sparkle of Liliana returned. “Busy. But still sane, thankfully. Work’s been hell this month, but I’m managing. Honestly, without the drama from your love life, my world’s been a little more peaceful.”


    I let out a smallugh, realizing just how much of a storm I’d brought into the lives of those close to me. But Liliana had never truly left. She remained, like a small anchor that kept me from drifting too far.


    11:15 AM Tue 2 Sep