AM EMPTY DOORSTEP

Two days passed.

Two whole days, and not a single word from James.

Not a message. Not a call. Not even a glimpse of him at the usual places.

Sophie tried to distract herself, burying her head in books she couldn't focus on, music that only made the silence louder, and walks that led her in circles. But every corner of the town seemed to whisper his name. Every time she passed a window or a tree they had stood under, she felt a small ache pull in her chest.

By the afternoon of the second day, she couldn't take it anymore.

She stood outside James's house, her hands curled into fists at her sides. The old gate creaked as she pushed it open, and the house loomed before her like a story paused mid-sentence. It felt quiet. Not abandoned, but not alive either.

She knocked.

For a moment, there was no sound.

Then footsteps.

The door opened, revealing Mrs. Williams—her familiar warmth and steady eyes instantly easing some of Sophie's nerves.

"Sophie," the older woman said, slightly surprised but smiling. "Come in, dear."

"Good afternoon," Sophie greeted softly.

They exchanged a brief embrace before Sophie stepped inside.

The air inside the house was still, carrying the faint scent of old books, polished wood, and something floral—maybe lavender. The light was dim, filtered through heavy curtains that danced ever so slightly in the breeze.

"Have a seat," Mrs. Williams offered, motioning to one of the cushioned chairs in the front room.

Sophie sat, folding her hands tightly in her lap. Her eyes wandered—not intentionally, but instinctively—searching for any sign of him. His coat draped over the railing, a teacup left on the side table, anything that would say: *he's still here.*

Mrs. Williams noticed.

"Looking for something?" she asked with a tilt of her head.

Sophie hesitated. "Well… I came to see James."

Mrs. Williams gave a knowing nod. "He isn't around at the moment."

Sophie's brow furrowed. "Has he been out long?"

"He hasn't really been at home for the past two days," the woman replied. "I see him come and go in flashes, like a shadow. But he hasn't stayed."

"Is he… is he okay?" Sophie asked.

Mrs. Williams chuckled softly, the sound light but not mocking. "Of course. No need to worry about him. He's immortal, remember?"

Sophie's eyes widened. "You know?"

"Of course I know," Mrs. Williams said calmly. "I've known from the beginning. He told me a very long time ago. It's not something he hides from those he trusts."

There was a long pause.

"I guess I didn't think anyone else knew," Sophie admitted.

"He's been through a lot," Mrs. Williams said, her voice suddenly softer. "More than most souls should bear. But he's kind. He always has been, even when he's hurting."

They sat in silence for a moment.

Then Mrs. Williams smiled again and said, "He cares for you, you know."

Sophie looked down at her hands. "I know. I just don't know if I deserve it."

Mrs. Williams didn't answer that. She just patted Sophie's hand gently.

"Deserving has nothing to do with love, dear. Sometimes we push people away because we're scared they'll leave us first. But James… he's not someone who gives up easily. He's just... learning how to protect himself."

Sophie swallowed hard. "I think I broke something between us."

"You're both still here," Mrs. Williams replied. "So maybe it's not broken—just waiting to be repaired."

They talked a bit more—about the weather, about the flowers blooming in the garden, about how the house always creaked after rain, and how James used to hum old songs under his breath when he painted upstairs. Mrs. Williams even offered her tea, which Sophie accepted, if only for the comfort of something warm in her hands.

Eventually, the light outside began to shift toward gold again.

Sophie stood to leave.

"Thank you for letting me in," she said.

"Anytime," Mrs. Williams replied. "This door is always open to you."

Sophie turned to go but hesitated at the doorway.

"If he comes back…" she began, her voice barely above a whisper. "Can you tell him I was here?"

"I will," Mrs. Williams promised.

Sophie nodded, then stepped back into the evening.

But as she closed the gate behind her and started walking back toward town, the sadness didn't lift.

James was still gone.

And this time, she wasn't sure if he would come back.

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