Eclipsed Dreams

Chapter 8

Several weeks have passed since Evelyn and Sebastian shared that intimate moment. Their encounters have been infrequent, both too caught up in their own thoughts and feelings to seek each other out.

Evelyn's life has continued, filled with work, friends, and routines. However, Sebastian can't get that moment out of his head. He misses the connection, the comfort, the feeling of closeness he'd experienced with her.

Sebastian is at his coffee shop, mindlessly wiping down the counter, when the bell above the door rings. He looks up, expecting a customer, his heart skipping a beat when he realizes who it is.

Evelyn, looking as beautiful as ever, is standing there, a tentative smile on her lips.

Sebastian's heart skips multiple beats as he sees her, standing there in the familiar setting of his coffee shop.

He quickly composes himself, masking his surprise and delight behind a professional demeanor. "Evelyn," he manages to say, his voice betraying nothing. "I didn't expect to see you here."

Evelyn steps up to the counter, her own heart racing. Seeing Sebastian is harder than she expected. A wave of emotions floods her, memories of their shared moment, her own confusion and insecurities.

She looks around, seeing that the shop is mostly empty, save for a few customers.

She turns back to Sebastian, her voice a little shaky, "May I... may I have a word with you, in private?"

Sebastian's eyebrows raise at her request, a hint of surprise on his face. But he nods, understanding the seriousness in her tone.

He gestures for her to follow him, leading her behind the counter and into a small, private area meant for staff.

Once they're alone, out of earshot and sight of the other customers, Sebastian turns to Evelyn, the air charged with tension.

He leans back against a counter, arms crossed, his eyes searching hers, "You wanted to talk?"

Evelyn takes a moment, gathering her courage. She'd thought about what she wanted to say all day, planned out her words, but now, facing him, she feels all her plans slipping away.

She takes a deep breath, her eyes meeting his, "Yes... I... I've been doing a lot of thinking these past few weeks, and I have something I need to say to you."

Sebastian can feel the weight of her words, the seriousness in her tone. His heart, which had been hammering against his ribs since she walked in, speeds up a notch.

He nods, his voice a little gruff, "Go ahead. I'm listening."

Evelyn takes a step closer, her eyes holding his gaze, her words measured. "I've been thinking a lot about... about us. About that moment we shared."

She looks down momentarily, collecting her thoughts. "The thing is, Sebastian, I... I find myself drawn to you. Your intelligence, your strength, your... vulnerability. But I'm also... troubled. A part of me can't shake off the age difference, the stage of life we're in..."

Sebastian listens in silence, the turmoil of emotions in her voice plain to hear. He'd been wondering, during the weeks apart, if she was having second thoughts about them, about the potential of a relationship between them. Hearing her voice those doubts now, it's confirmation of his fears.

He pushes off the counter, his arms dropping to his sides, his voice a gruff murmur, "And the other part of you? What's that part saying?"

Evelyn's gaze meets his again, the turmoil in her eyes evident. "The other part of me," she whispers, "is telling me to forget age, forget societal norms, forget everything that makes this... this difficult. It's telling me to just... feel, to just... be with you."