The energy in the cottage lingered long after Sarah and Lily had driven away, leaving behind a half-eaten quiche and a bright yellow balloon tied to the back of a kitchen chair.
Julian had stayed behind to help clear the mismatched plates. He stood at the sink, washing the mugs while Elara dried them. They worked in a comfortable, domestic silence, the only sounds being the splashing of water and the clinking of ceramic.
Elara paused, holding a dry towel and Julian's empty coffee mug. She looked at his profile—the dusting of flour still clinging to his hairline, the gentle slope of his jaw. She thought about the smile he had pulled from her earlier. It had felt like cracking open a window in a stuffy room.
She wanted to say thank you. She wanted to form the syllables, push the air past her vocal cords, and let him hear the gratitude in her voice. But the invisible wall was still there.
She set the mug down and pulled her phone from her pocket. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard for a long moment before she started typing. She didn't just type 'thank you'. She typed something much heavier, something that terrified her.
She walked over to the sink and tapped Julian gently on the shoulder. He turned, wiping his wet hands on a dish towel, and looked at the screen she held up between them.
*I want to see a doctor. A therapist. Someone who can help me find the words.*
Julian read the text. He didn't smile immediately. Instead, his expression turned incredibly serious, his hazel eyes searching hers to make sure she was certain. He saw the fear in her eyes, but he also saw the fierce, newly awakened determination.
"Okay," he said, his voice quiet but incredibly firm. "Okay, Elara. We'll find someone. Together."
He didn't say 'You will find someone'. He said 'We'. And in that single word, Elara felt a piece of her broken foundation finally lock back into place.