The sky had deepened to a soft navy, dotted with the first stars of the night. Maple Hollow was quiet now, the hum of daytime traffic gone, replaced by the gentle rustle of leaves in the breeze.
Inside Hannah's apartment, the space was warm and inviting. The faint aroma of evening tea mingled with the lingering scent of baked bread from the café earlier. Emma sat on the couch, blanket draped over her shoulders, sketchbook resting in her lap but mostly ignored.
Hannah moved around the room, tidying up and humming a soft tune under her breath. "You look cozy," she said, smiling as she caught Emma's gaze.
Emma grinned back. "I am cozy. But mostly because you're here."
Hannah paused, leaning against the back of the couch. "You know," she said softly, "I didn't realize how much I'd enjoy the quiet evenings like this. Just us. No one else."
Emma tilted her head, her smile softening. "It's nice, isn't it? Being able to just… exist together without rushing."
Hannah nodded, taking a seat beside her. Their shoulders brushed, fingers lightly touching. The room felt full of unspoken words — trust, comfort, warmth — and neither of them rushed to fill the silence.
For a while, they simply sat together, watching the flicker of the streetlights outside and listening to the subtle hum of the city. Hannah's hand found Emma's, fingers intertwining naturally.
"I like this," Hannah murmured. "I like… everything we've built together."
Emma's thumb brushed lightly over Hannah's hand. "Me too. It feels steady. Real."
They stayed like that, quiet and close, letting the evening stretch around them. Outside, the night deepened, but inside, the warmth between them seemed endless — a gentle, steady certainty that this was exactly where they were meant to be.