Celestial: Fallen

Chapter 55: Echoes of the Night

Diarmid stood by the door, his presence effortlessly commanding even in the quiet, intimate space of Josh's place. Arwen lingered a few steps away, her hands clasped nervously in front of her. She hesitated, searching for the right words, the silence between them filled with unspoken thoughts.

"Thanks for checking in on me," she said softly, finally breaking the quiet. Her gaze flickered up to meet his, then darted away as her cheeks warmed. "You didn't have to, but... I appreciate it."

Diarmid's lips curved into a small, almost imperceptible smile. "You don't need to thank me, Arwen," he replied, his voice deep and steady. "I wanted to make sure you were okay."

"I am," she said quickly, then hesitated. "Well, I will be. Things have just been... a lot lately."

His gaze softened, and for a moment, it felt like the weight of the world wasn't so heavy. "If you ever need someone to talk to... or just someone to listen, you know where to find me."

Her heart skipped a beat at the quiet sincerity in his tone. "Thanks. That means a lot."

Diarmid shifted slightly, his hands slipping into his jacket pockets. "I'll see you at the university tomorrow?" he asked, his tone casual but holding a hint of anticipation.

Arwen nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Yeah. I'll be there."

He held her gaze for a moment longer, his golden-brown eyes warm and steady, before he finally turned toward the door. "Goodnight, Arwen," he said softly.

"Goodnight," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

The door clicked shut behind him, leaving her alone with her thoughts. She lingered for a moment, then wandered over to the window. Parting the curtain just slightly, she watched as Diarmid climbed into his SUV. His movements were smooth and deliberate, as if he carried an unshakable confidence in everything he did.

The roar of the engine echoed faintly in the stillness of the night, and as he drove away, Arwen found herself smiling softly.

"See you tomorrow," she murmured to herself, the words carrying a strange warmth that she didn't fully understand.

The atmosphere in the room felt suddenly lighter but heavier at the same time, as if a piece of her had gone with him, yet his presence still lingered in the air, like the echo of a whisper that refused to fade.

She didn't know how long she had been standing there when she heard a soft knock on the door, followed by Diarmid's low voice calling out gently, "Arwen?"

Her heart skipped. Was he still here?

Without thinking, she opened the door, and there he was, standing just outside, bathed in the dim light from the hallway. His dark jacket seemed to swallow up the faint glow from the lamp beside him, but his eyes... his eyes still held that spark, that intensity that made her feel like she could drown in them and still crave more.

"Diarmid?" She said his name softly, unsure of what to say next. Her fingers nervously fidgeted with the edge of the door.

He smiled at her, but there was something softer about it than before—almost like he was hesitating, as if he, too, was trying to figure out what came next. "I didn't want to leave without saying goodnight and sweet dreams" His voice was low, smooth, with a hint of something more that she couldn't quite place.

Her pulse quickened, and for a moment, she almost forgot how to breathe. Why does it always feel like this when he's near? She wanted to say something, anything to break the tension, but her words caught in her throat.

Instead, she stepped aside, opening the door just a little wider. "Of course. Sweet Dreams too, Diarmid."

He paused, his gaze briefly flicking down at her, taking in every detail of her. "Are you sure you're alright?" he asked, his voice still warm but edged with concern. He stepped just inside, his body language suggesting he wanted to stay longer, to protect her from something he wasn't entirely sure of. His gaze lingered on her, searching her face as if he could read her thoughts.