Fates Entwined

Chapter 21: The Weight of Waiting

The sun rose gently over the town, casting a golden hue that mirrored the lightness in Aaron's demeanor. He watched as Miri tilted her phone, capturing a perfect snapshot of the quaint café they'd stumbled upon. She turned the camera on him next, her laughter bubbling like soft music when he struck an exaggerated pose.

"You're such a dork," Miri teased, lowering the phone and shaking her head, though the smile on her face was undeniable.

Aaron grinned. "If it makes you laugh, it's worth it."

They spent the day wandering through cobblestone streets, snapping photos of anything that caught their eye—colorful murals, vibrant flowers swaying in the breeze, and even each other. For a while, Miri let herself get lost in the simplicity of the moment. She needed this lightness, a break from the shadows that always seemed to follow her.

But as the day wore on and the sun began to dip, casting longer shadows across the streets, Aaron noticed the subtle shift in Miri's mood. Her laughter was quieter, her gaze distant.

"You're thinking about Risha," Aaron said softly as they sat on a bench overlooking a small park.

Miri's head snapped toward him, startled. "I—yeah, I guess I am," she admitted, fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve. "It's hard not to. She's my sister in every way that matters, and I feel like she's... drowning in something I can't see."

Aaron nodded but didn't push. He had learned that Miri opened up in her own time, and he respected that.

That evening, as the first stars began to dot the sky, they found themselves back at the small motel they were using as a base. Miri leaned against the railing of the balcony, her face illuminated by the soft glow of the town's lights.

"Aaron," she started, her voice barely above a whisper, "there's someone else. Someone I... I don't even know how to explain it."

"Neil," Aaron said, not as a question but as a statement of understanding.

She turned to him, surprise flickering in her eyes. "How did you—"

"You've mentioned him before," Aaron interrupted gently. "And you're carrying something heavy. I figured he might be part of it."

Miri sighed, her shoulders sagging. "He is. He's... I don't even know what we are anymore. But I know he's waiting, and I can't stand the thought of hurting him."

Aaron's gaze was steady, his voice calm. "What matters isn't what Neil feels, or even what I feel. It's about what you feel, Miri. What you want. That's all that matters to me."

Miri blinked, his words sinking deep into her heart. For a moment, she didn't know what to say. Finally, she managed a faint smile. "Time will tell," she said quietly.

Aaron nodded, accepting her answer without hesitation.

After a long silence, Miri straightened, her resolve hardening. "I need to go back to Risha. She needs me, Aaron. Things are messy right now, and she can't face them alone."

Aaron smiled softly. "Then let's get you back to her."

As they prepared to leave, Miri felt a pang of gratitude toward Aaron. He was steady in ways she hadn't realized she needed, a grounding presence amid the chaos. And though her heart remained a complicated tangle, she couldn't deny that Aaron had a way of making the world feel a little less heavy.

For now, though, her focus was on Risha. Whatever storm her cousin was caught in, Miri would be there to face it with her.