Healing Hearts|| {Erich Blunt}

Chapter 1: The Encounter

Erich Blunt had never considered himself the type to enjoy the simple pleasures of a morning jog. The cold, early hours were a refuge, a time when the park was mostly empty, allowing him to immerse himself in the rhythmic pounding of his feet against the path and the crisp air filling his lungs. New York was different from San Francisco—more intense, more alive.

As he rounded a bend, lost in thought, he collided with a smaller figure, sending them both stumbling. A cascade of apologies filled the air before he could even process what had happened.

"I'm so sorry!" a bright, cheerful voice exclaimed. "I wasn't watching where I was going."

Erich looked down to see a young woman with sparkling blue eyes and a disarming smile. She was dressed in vibrant workout gear that matched her bubbly personality. He found himself momentarily speechless, a rare occurrence for the usually composed tech genius.

"No, it was my fault," he managed to say, extending a hand to help her up. "I was distracted."

"Well, looks like we're both to blame then," she said, accepting his hand and springing to her feet with surprising energy. "I'm Arabella, by the way."

"Erich," he replied, a small, rare smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

They exchanged a few more pleasantries before parting ways, each continuing their jog. But as Erich ran, he couldn't shake the encounter from his mind. There was something about Emily's warmth and genuine happiness that struck a chord in his otherwise guarded heart.