Finding light in the darkest places—through love-Chapter 82 – The Space Between

The morning after their late-night walk hung in the air like fog—soft, quiet, and filled with all the things they hadn't said.

Evelyn stirred awake slowly, blinking at the soft light pouring through the curtains. Her room was still, but her thoughts were anything but. She could still feel the way Adrian had looked at her. Gentle. Sure. Like he knew.

She touched the place on her cheek where he had tucked her hair behind her ear.

Why didn't he kiss me?

And why was she disappointed that he hadn't?

A soft knock at her door pulled her from her thoughts. She blinked, then scrambled up to open it, still in her oversized hoodie and pajama shorts.

Claire stood there, one eyebrow raised and two coffee cups in hand. "You're awake? I thought I'd have to drag you out of bed."

Evelyn stepped aside to let her in. "Barely."

Claire handed her a cup. "You look like you had a night."

Evelyn took a sip, trying to play it cool. "It was just dinner."

"With Adrian?"

She hesitated, then nodded.

Claire plopped onto the bed, kicking off her shoes. "Okay, spill. You're practically glowing."

"I am not glowing."

Claire smirked. "Evie, you're blushing right now."

"I'm not!" But she was, and they both knew it.

Claire leaned back against the headboard. "So what happened? Did he finally make a move or are we still in romantic limbo?"

Evelyn hesitated. "He said... he thinks about us. A lot."

Claire blinked. "Wait. Did he say that? Like, out loud?"

Evelyn nodded slowly. "And I told him I've been lying to myself about how I feel."

There was a beat of silence before Claire let out a long, satisfied sigh. "Finally."

"I know."

"Do you feel better?"

Evelyn sat beside her. "I feel... relieved. Like I've been holding my breath for months and I finally let it out."

Claire nudged her. "So... what now?"

Evelyn's smile faded a little. "I don't know. It's like we're both waiting for the other person to say it first. And maybe that's okay. Maybe we're not quite ready. But it's different now. I can feel it."

Claire grinned. "I give it three days before one of you breaks."

A Shift in the Air

Adrian was quiet that morning.

He sat in the campus café, idly stirring his coffee, his phone untouched on the table beside him. Usually, mornings were routine. Coffee, emails, and a few texts from friends. But today, everything felt different.

He wasn't sure what Evelyn would say the next time he saw her. Not after what they'd shared.

He glanced at his phone, thumb hovering over her contact before finally giving in.

Adrian: Still alive?

The response came quickly.

Evelyn: Barely. Claire brought caffeine. She's my hero.

Adrian: Should I be jealous?

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Evelyn: You should always be a little jealous.

He smiled.

Adrian: Walk with me later?

Evelyn: Thought you'd never ask.

Small Moments, Big Meaning

That afternoon, they met under the large oak tree near the art building, where the sunlight filtered through golden leaves and cast dappled shadows across the grass. Adrian leaned against the trunk, arms crossed as he watched her approach.

"You're late," he said.

Evelyn raised an eyebrow. "By two minutes."

"Still late."

She rolled her eyes and stood beside him, letting the silence stretch comfortably between them for a beat.

Finally, she said, "Is it weird that everything feels... different now?"

Adrian glanced at her, his voice low. "No. Because it is different."

She looked up at him. "What changed?"

He turned to face her fully. "You stopped running. I think I did too."

She exhaled, a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. "Yeah."

They walked without saying much, past the crowded student center, through quiet paths between buildings, until they found themselves near the lake at the edge of campus. It was mostly deserted, the wind rippling the surface of the water in gentle waves.

Evelyn sat on a bench, and Adrian joined her, close enough for their shoulders to brush.

She glanced sideways. "I thought you were going to kiss me last night."

Adrian looked at her, something vulnerable flickering in his gaze. "I wanted to."

"Why didn't you?"

He looked away, chuckling under his breath. "Because I didn't want to mess it up. I wanted to be sure you were ready."

Evelyn was quiet for a long time, then she said softly, "I think I am now."

Adrian turned back to her slowly. "Yeah?"

She nodded, meeting his eyes. "I've been scared. Not because I don't feel something, but because I do. And it's big. And I didn't know if I could handle it."

He reached for her hand, gently threading his fingers through hers. "You don't have to handle it alone."

The words settled between them like a promise.

Back at the Dorm

Later that evening, Evelyn flopped onto her bed, phone in hand, a dreamy, tired smile tugging at her lips. Claire looked up from her desk.

"Well?"

Evelyn's voice was quiet, almost awed. "He held my hand."

Claire blinked. "That's it?"

"It's not just that." Evelyn laughed. "It's the way he looked at me when he did it. Like... like it meant something."

Claire smirked. "It does."

Evelyn stared at the ceiling, her voice soft. "I think I'm falling for him."

Claire didn't say anything for a while. Then she leaned over and said gently, "No, Evie. You already have."