LONELY HEARTS
Esmé's life takes a dramatic turn when she becomes entwined with Eiser, a son from a powerful family. Haunted by loss and trapped in a loveless marriage, she battles to connect with a man who conceals his emotions behind a wall of sile...
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A CONDITIONAL STAY
"Action expresses priorities." - Mahatma Gandhi
It was late by the time Esmé finished cleaning up the kitchen. The soft light from the hanging lamp above casts long shadows across the room.
She moved quietly, gathering the dishes and wiping the counters, her thoughts wandering.
She glanced over at the couch, expecting to see the space where Eiser had been earlier. To her surprise, he hadn't left.
Eiser was slumped on the couch, his jacket tossed carelessly over the armrest. His shirt sleeves were rolled up, revealing the taut muscles of his forearms.
The top button of his shirt was undone, his tie long discarded. His face was relaxed, eyes closed in a deep, untroubled sleep.
His presence was different from the usual guarded figure who always seemed to be looking ahead, his mind forever consumed by something else.
Esmé paused, leaning against the counter, a small frown tugging at her lips.
She hadn't expected him to stay. She assumed he'd go back to the mansion, continue with his duties, or whatever it was that kept him away so often.
But here he was, asleep in her cottage as if he didn't want to leave.
A strange knot formed in her chest.
Was it out of necessity? Or was it something else, something deeper she couldn't quite put into words? She couldn't bring herself to wake him.
Instead, she stood there in the quiet, watching him, the fire crackling softly in the background.
Esmé hesitated before walking over to where Eiser lay on the couch. The firelight flickered, casting a soft glow across his relaxed face.
His steady breathing was the only sound in the room, and for a moment, she allowed herself to simply watch him, the tension in her chest loosening just a little.
But she knew this couldn't last. He had to leave eventually.
"Eiser," she called softly, her voice cutting through the stillness of the room.
There was no immediate response.
She moved closer, standing by the edge of the couch, looking down at him.
His breathing deepened for a moment as if he were sinking further into sleep, but then, as if sensing her gaze, his eyelids fluttered open.
He blinked a few times, his bleary eyes slowly focusing on her standing there.
He rubbed his eyes, his gaze shifting to the clock on the wall.
Esmé stood still, watching him for a moment. She had expected him to get up, to gather his things and leave as he always did.
