Yearned

Aria

Cassian and I returned to the house, the tension from earlier slowly giving way to a quiet calm. The familiar surroundings offered a strange sense of relief, even though my thoughts remained a storm of emotions.

Breaking the silence, Cassian's voice was gentle as he asked, "Are you hungry?"

As if on cue, my stomach grumbled loudly, betraying my hunger. I tried to lighten the mood with a small smile. "I could eat an elephant right now."

Cassian chuckled softly, the corners of his mouth lifting in genuine amusement. "An elephant, huh? That might be a little ambitious. Let's start with sandwiches."

"That works for me," I said, my tone grateful. "Anything at this point would be amazing."

He stood from the couch and headed toward the kitchen. I watched him move with a quiet ease, his presence oddly comforting. A few minutes later, he returned with a plate of sandwiches and a glass of orange juice.

"Here," he said, handing me the plate.