"cut from the same cloth" - their story.

Chapter 18 - speak.

The morning light streamed through the window as Mia and Charlotte reluctantly disentangled themselves from the warmth of their bed. Mia felt a renewed sense of determination after their conversation, but the weight of Charlotte's diagnosis still lingered in the background. After a quiet breakfast, Charlotte began to get ready for work. Despite the turmoil in their lives, she was determined to maintain some semblance of normalcy. Mia watched her, admiring her strength and resilience.

"Are you sure you want to go to work today?" Mia asked, concern etched in her voice.

Charlotte nodded, buttoning up her blouse. "Yes. I need to keep busy, to keep my mind off things. And besides, we need the routine. It helps."

Mia understood, though she wished she could keep Charlotte at home, safe and sound. "Okay. Just promise me you'll take it easy."

Charlotte smiled, crossing the room to give Mia a kiss. "I promise. I'll be back before you know it."

As Charlotte grabbed her bag and keys, Mia followed her to the door. "Call me if you need anything, okay?"

Charlotte nodded. "I will. And you take care of yourself too, Mia. We'll get through this together."

Mia watched as Charlotte walked down the path to their car, her heart swelling with love and worry. As the car drove away, Mia took a deep breath and turned back to the house. She needed to keep herself busy as well. The house felt emptier without Charlotte, but Mia busied herself with chores, trying to keep her mind occupied. She washed dishes, tidied up, and even attempted to do some work from home. But the weight of the dream and the reality of their situation kept creeping back into her thoughts. She decided to take a break and make some tea, hoping the warmth would soothe her troubled mind. As she sat at the kitchen table, her thoughts drifted back to Reece. She wondered where he was now, what he was doing, and if he ever thought about her. The phone rang, jolting her from her reverie. She quickly answered, hoping it was Charlotte.

"Mia?" Charlotte's voice came through, a mixture of surprise and relief. "I just wanted to hear your voice."

Mia smiled, feeling a rush of warmth. "I'm glad you called. How's work?"

"It's okay. Just... a lot on my mind. But I needed to check in. How are you holding up?"

"Trying to stay busy," Mia admitted. "It's hard not to think about everything."

"I know," Charlotte said softly. "But we'll get through it. Just take it one step at a time."

They talked for a few more minutes, sharing little updates and offering each other encouragement. When they finally hung up, Mia felt a bit lighter, reassured by Charlotte's words and the sound of her voice. Mia spent the rest of the day doing small tasks, anything to keep her mind occupied. She prepared a comforting dinner, hoping it would lift their spirits when Charlotte returned home. As the afternoon light began to fade, Mia found herself looking out the window, waiting for Charlotte's car to pull into the driveway. When it finally did, Mia felt a surge of relief. She rushed to the door to greet Charlotte, enveloping her in a tight hug as soon as she walked in.