Chapter: 11 Where Time Stands Still

Our eyes met, drawn together by something deeper than just the storm that had passed. The world around us seemed to fade away, leaving only the soft rustle of leaves in the evening breeze and the rhythmic beating of our hearts. There was a hesitation, a gentle pause, as if the universe itself held its breath.

Slowly, I reached for her, my fingers brushing her cheek, a touch so light, so fragile, as if afraid to break the delicate spell we were caught in. Her skin was cool against my palm, the faintest trace of rain still clinging to her hair. I could feel her heartbeat, steady and sure, in the space between us.

And then, without a word, she leaned in, her lips finding mine in a kiss that was soft, slow, like the first drop of rain after a long drought. It was the kind of kiss that spoke of promises, of time standing still, of everything that had led us here, to this moment. The world, for once, felt as it should—perfectly in place, as though nothing else mattered but us, here and now.

As we pulled away, just enough to breathe, I could feel the warmth of her presence linger, the air charged with something that was more than just affection. It was a connection, something timeless, something undeniable. And I knew, in that moment, that nothing would ever be the same again.