<b>189 </b>


    Sienna’s POV


    I shut the gate slowly and walked back in the house.


    When Liam’s auto vanished from view, the home quickly became quiet. Only the ticking of a wall clock could be heard mixing with the soft smell of coffee that still hung in the air.


    I paused for a while in the living room, my gazending on the eating table we’d just walked away from. There was still Noah’s clean te and Liam’s coffee mug, not touched since morning. For some reason, the view made me grin. A soft warmth spread through my heart? something I thought I’d lost long ago, now gentlying back.


    I started to clean the table slowly. Each move felt peaceful, kind of like a dream. One by one, I took the tes to sink. Warm water flowed over my hands, cleaning off the signs of the easy meal we enjoyed that morning full with fun and brightness


    Liam and Noah. Two names that made me feel both scared and want to stay. Now they are the reason I can smile each morning,


    I turned the faucet a bit up, letting the sound of water fill the quiet room. Soap bubbles floated in the sink, shining as sunlight hit them. My hands moved soft, rinsing each dish while my thoughts drifted far away.


    Outside I could barely hear the chirp of birds, a gentle tune that made the morning feel more calm. But under that peace my heart beat a bit quicker for reasons I couldn’t really say. Maybe because what we shared before felt too nice, like something delicate that might go away if I wasn’t careful.


    I looked at Liam’s cup sitting on the table, the light mark of coffee still clear around the edge. Without knowing it, I grinned again. I used to miss small things like that one. But now, I wanted to keep in mind all<b>, </b>every detail, every little moment that made us feel like a family once more.


    I grabbed the mug softly, keeping it with two hands. It was still a bit warm, like it held bits of a person who just left, one who made me weep a lot, but now showed me what pardon really meant.


    The water in the sink started to spill a bit, waking me from my daydream. I quickly turned it down and chuckled lightly at myself.


    “See you, Sienna” I said “you can even dream up while doing the dishes.”


    But behind that giggle, something soft was growing in my heart, a feeling I hadn’t yet had the courage to call. Maybe I was starting to lift my heart once more not like before but in a calmer, slower way.


    When I was done, I wiped my hands with a cloth and peeked at my image in the kitchen ss. Light shone on part of my face, making my hair look bright. I seemed better than I had been in ages. The dark rings under my eyes were missing, the tightness in my jaw had lessened, and the fear that once filled my eyes was not there anymore? Maybe this was the face of someone slowly finding joy again.


    I went to the little work area in the corner of the home. My wood table stood tidy by the window, myptop still open fromst night. The end line I had written shined softly on the screen. I sat down, looking at the words with a weird blend of feelings.


    Then, I opened a new page and began to type.


    189


    +25 Bonus


    “There is a time when someone stops to run not for being tired, but because they have found the spot where they want to remain.”


    My hands floated over the keys. The words hade out by itself, but it seemed like it truly showed who I am. For many years, I was looking for sense in all the hurt and grief that had stacked up. But now, I know where I want to end. Here! With them.


    After I wrote some more lines, I shut theptop, happy for the morning. Then I went to the living room and switched on YouTube from the TV. A soft old song filled up the room. Its tune was calm and nostalgic. I leaned back on the sofa sinking into cushions eyes drifting towards the ceiling.


    My thoughts drifted to a chat with Liamst night, how unlike he felt now, friendlier someway. The way he hugged me, as if he didn’t wish to release me. The calm truthfulness in his speech. I could still sense the ring of that pulse in my chest. After many years apart, hope had softly started to grow between us again


    “Learning to care,” I said softly. The words felt both nice and scary. Because to care meant having the guts to get hurt, to let go, to try once more after failing. But this time, I wanted to try with Liam, without pressure without the shadows of the past.


    My cell rang really loud, cutting into my mind. I got up and fast took the call.


    “Hello?”


    “Good morning, Sienna!” The voice on the other end made me smile. It was Livia. “I just sent a draft agreement to your email. The publisher is really interested, you can read it before we sign anything.”


    “Oh wow, thank you, Livia. I really didn’t expect things to move this fast.”


    “Of course they did,” she said cheerfully. “With a manuscript that good, anyone would be interested. Oh, are you at home right now?”


    “Yes, Liam and Noah just left.”


    “I can imagine how quiet your house must be right now,” she teased.


    I chuckled softly. “Yeah, for now. Until Noah gets home this afternoon.”


    “Well, I hope you enjoy your quiet time, Sienna. You deserve it.”


    “Thank you, Livia.”


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    <strong>Sara Lili</strong> is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d’s breathtaking cold.