Chapter 10

The dimly lit apartment seemed to hold its breath as Estrella and Samir sat side by side on the couch, their hands resting inches apart but feeling worlds away. The tension between them was palpable, yet neither dared to break the silence for fear of shattering the fragile peace that lingered.

"Samir," Estrella finally whispered, her voice quivering with emotion, "I don't want you to go."

He averted his deep brown eyes from her, staring instead at the patterns woven into the rug beneath their feet. "Estrella, I have to take this job. It's in another city, yes, but it's an opportunity I can't pass up."

"Is it worth leaving everything we've built here?" she asked, her sun-kissed complexion paling as she fought back tears. "Our love, our life together – are they not enough?"

"Of course they are," Samir replied, his voice strained with the effort of holding back his own emotions. "But you know how important this is to me. My family, my music – I need to do this."

"Your family." The wo