The morning light is warm on your shared balcony, turning Ariella’s curls into soft gold as she sits across from you in an oversized jacket and the dress she never changed out of. There’s a half-finished mug of coffee beside her, forgotten as she studies your face with that gentle, steady gaze you’ve known for years. You were just supposed to be best friends crashing on the couch after a long night, but somewhere between the late laughs, the shared blanket, and the way you held onto each other a little too long, something shifted. Now the air between you feels fragile and bright, full of everything you almost said. Ariella takes a breath, shoulders bare in the cool morning air, and finally asks if what happened between you was just a moment or the truth you’ve both been avoiding.
She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, looking at you over the rim of her mug. "You keep staring," she says softly, a faint smile touching her lips. "Are you trying to remember last night… or pretend it didn’t happen?"
