Carissa's POV
I looked at the phone in my hand. My fingers were shaking, even if I tried to seem calm. I sent a message yesterday evening.
Can we meet today? I’d like to talk, calmly.
I was sitting in a tiny café hidden in a calm spot of the city waiting for someone who just few months ago felt like safest place in my life Gio.
He got here ten mins later, in a dark coat and a face you could not read. His walk was quick and aimed—just like before. But there was no grin No gesture.
"Carissa," he said without feeling as he took the seat in front of me. "Let us get to point. What do you want to speak about?"
I gulped tough. I felt I was set. But saying the words seemed like holding pieces of glass i͏n my mouth,
“I’m sorry,” I whispered.
He lifted a brow, leaning back in his seat.
Carissa's POVWe stepped outside. The morning air immediately greeted us, cool but fresh, with the scent of damp earth. The streets around the house were quiet, with only the occasional bird call or wind rustling the leaves.We walked side by side, not too close, but not too far apart. The distance felt just right—enough to give us space, but also enough to feel like we were being accompanied.At first, we didn't say much. We just walked, letting the sound of our footsteps be the background music. But the silence felt soothing.Every now and then, I glanced at Dylan. He walked calmly, his gaze occasionally sweeping across the road ahead or the blue sky. There was a calmness I rarely see in others—like he wasn't in a hurry to get anywhere.“Do you usually take morning walks?” I finally asked.He shook his head. “Rarely. I usually go for a
Carissa's POV“Did you sleep well?” Dylan asked, returning his attention to the cup he was filling.I nodded. “Good. You?”“Not bad,” he replied, then glanced away briefly. “Do you like tea or coffee in the morning?”It was a simple question, but it felt like he had just opened a small window into me. I took a deep breath before answering. “Tea. Coffee sometimes makes me too anxious.”He nodded, as if registering something in his head. “Okay. Hot tea, coming soon.”I chuckled, then walked over. “Can I help you?”He turned his head, his eyes lingering on me for a few seconds. “Just sit down. I’ll make it.”I complied, sitting in a chair near the table. From there, I could see him more clearly—the way he measured th
Carissa's POV“I like nights like this,” he said, without turning around. “It’s quiet, but not so quiet that it makes you lonely. It’s quiet… enough.”I stared at him for a long moment. The way he said it made me realize that perhaps we were the same—looking for enough space to breathe, without too much noise, without the urge to fill every pause with conversation.He turned, closed the curtain again, and walked over. I thought he was going to sit in another chair or return to the end of the bed. But instead, he stopped right in front of me.“Are your hands cold?” he asked, his voice barely a whisper.I lifted my palm slightly. He reached for it, and sure enough—my hand was cold. His grip was warm, gently rubbing the back of my hand with his thumb.“To keep it warm,” he said simply.
Carissa's POVI took a deep breath, holding back the emotions that suddenly felt too close to the surface. “You… don’t know how much that means to me.”“Then,” he lowered his head slightly, his voice growing softer, “I’ll tell you another time. So you won’t forget.”We didn’t talk much after that. We just exchanged glances every now and then, or smiled for no apparent reason. Time passed at the speed that only moments like these can—not too fast, but never completely still either.I didn’t know how much longer we would sit like this. But for once, I didn’t care. The world outside could wait.Dylan didn’t look at me again immediately. He just sighed, then tilted his body slightly, almost eliminating the distance between us. Outside, the afternoon sky was beginning to turn a deep blue. The lights in
Carissa's POVI didn’t answer, just leaned in slightly, moving closer. I don’t know who started first, but the distance between us narrowed until I could feel the warmth of his breath.There was no hurried kiss. Only their foreheads touched first, gently, like two people trying to hear each other's thoughts. I could feel his quiet breath, his fingers trembling slightly as they gripped mine tighter.“Just like this… that's enough,” he murmured.I nodded without opening my eyes. “Yes.”A few minutes passed in silence. Outside, the sky was starting to turn a pale purple. The lights hadn't been turned on, and the room was now filled with the faint glow of dusk.Dylan released one of his hands from my grasp, only to touch my cheek. His touch was warm, gentle, as if he was afraid to push me away. I let his palm linger, allowing th
Carissa's POVDylan didn't move, as if he understood I needed time to get comfortable in that position.“I know,” I finally replied, my voice barely a whisper. “I don’t want to pretend I forgot either.”Silence fell between us again, but this time it wasn’t an awkward silence.More like the silence of a peaceful afternoon, where the only sounds were our synchronized breathing, and the beating of our hearts that seemed to match its rhythm.He stared at my hand in his, then carefully stroked the back of my hand with his thumb.The movement was repeated, small, almost insignificant, but it sent a warm feeling spreading to my fingertips.I glanced at him. “Are you always like this with everyone?” I asked, half joking.He shook his head slowly, the smile lingering at the corners of his lips. “No. Only with people