Yours, Always....

Chapter 4:-Unspoken Feelings

Emily walked into the office, her usual coffee in hand, but today, something felt different. The weather outside was crisp, a light chill in the air, and she found herself thinking about Daniel more than usual. Their sessions had become more comfortable, almost like old friends talking, and with each meeting, she felt a growing warmth toward him. Sitting at her desk, Emily glanced at the clock. Daniel would be here soon. As she shuffled through her notes, she found herself smiling, wondering what small thing he might share today. Maybe it was silly, but lately, she had started looking forward to these sessions a little too much.Margaret peeked her head in, as usual. "Daniel's here, Emily. Want me to send him in?"Emily felt a small flutter in her chest. "Yes, please."A moment later, Daniel walked in, looking a little more relaxed than the first time they met. He gave her a soft smile, which she returned, and sat down across from her."How are you feeling today?" she asked, her tone light, though inside, she was far more curious than she let on.Daniel smiled, a little shyly. "Better. I think these sessions are helping."Emily's heart warmed at his words. "I'm glad to hear that. It's important to take things one day at a time."As they began to talk, the conversation flowed easily, as it often did. But today, Emily felt something different in the air, a kind of closeness that wasn't just from the professional side of things. She couldn't help but notice the way Daniel looked at her, his eyes lingering a little longer, and the way her own heart seemed to race just a little faster.At one point, Daniel chuckled, talking about how he had tried to cook dinner the night before and burned the entire meal. "Apparently, I'm terrible at cooking," he admitted with a grin.Emily laughed softly. "Well, maybe you're just out of practice. It happens to the best of us.""Do you cook much?" Daniel asked, leaning back in his chair, his eyes curious.Emily hesitated, feeling a little nervous under his gaze. "Not as much as I'd like. But I do enjoy it when I get the chance."There was a brief pause, and Emily suddenly felt the urge to make the conversation more personal. She knew it wasn't entirely professional, but the line between them had already begun to blur."You know," she said, her voice a bit quieter, "if you ever wanted... we could cook something together. It might be fun."Daniel blinked, surprised by her offer, but then his smile grew. "Yeah? That sounds like a good idea. I could use some help in the kitchen."Emily felt her cheeks warm slightly. "I'm not saying I'm an expert, but I think we could manage something edible."They both laughed, and for a moment, the atmosphere felt lighter, more playful. It was a small moment, but to Emily, it meant so much more. She didn't know why she had suggested it—it was just a friendly offer, right? But deep down, she couldn't deny that she wanted to spend more time with him outside of their sessions.As their session continued, Emily found herself glancing at him more often, watching the way he moved, the way he smiled, how his eyes sparkled when he talked about the little things in his day. She couldn't stop herself from noticing these details. When the session was over, they stood up, and Emily walked Daniel to the door. As he turned to leave, she spoke before she could stop herself."Daniel," she said softly, "if you're ever feeling overwhelmed, you can always... stop by, even outside of our sessions."He paused, looking at her with those kind eyes of his. "I appreciate that, Emily. Really. You've been amazing."Her heart did a little flip at his words, and she smiled, feeling both nervous and excited. "It's what I'm here for."Daniel gave her one last smile before he left, and Emily stood by the door for a moment, her mind racing. What had she just done? Was she crossing a line? But it didn't feel wrong. It felt... natural. And she couldn't ignore the way she felt around him anymore.Later that evening, as she sat in her small flat, Emily thought about Daniel and the day's conversation. She replayed it in her mind, especially the part where she had suggested cooking together. It wasn't a big deal, but to her, it felt like a small step toward something more, something she wasn't quite ready to admit out loud.Emily sighed, staring out the window at the city lights. She knew she was getting too close, but how could she stop now? There was something about Daniel that made her want to be near him, to help him in more ways than just therapy. She wasn't in love with him—at least, not yet. But she knew it was only a matter of time before her feelings grew even stronger. And that scared her.For now, she would take it slow, just like she had told Daniel about his memories. One step at a time.