The soft glow of the streetlights outside cast warm reflections on Maple Hollow's streets, the quiet night broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves. Inside Hannah's apartment, the golden light from the lamps mingled with the lingering warmth of the day, filling the space with a calm, inviting intimacy.
Emma was curled up on the couch, blanket draped over her shoulders, sketchbook forgotten as her gaze followed Hannah moving about the room. Hannah hummed lightly, adjusting cushions and tidying shelves, filling the apartment with a gentle energy that made the space feel alive and comforting.
"You know," Emma said softly, voice warm and quiet, "I think I could get used to evenings like this. Just… calm, quiet, and us."
Hannah smiled, settling beside her. Their shoulders brushed, fingers intertwined naturally, carrying the quiet intimacy they had built over weeks of mornings, afternoons, and evenings together.
"It's easy to forget the world exists when it's just us," Hannah murmured. "Everything feels lighter, simpler, right?"
Emma leaned in, resting her head lightly on Hannah's shoulder. "Exactly. And for a little while, nothing else matters."
They lingered close, letting the soft hum of the night and the warm glow of the lamps fill the spaces between them. The comfort and quiet intimacy was steady and reassuring — a warmth that needed no words, only the simple presence of each other.
When Emma finally stood to leave, they lingered at the door, hands still entwined. "See you tomorrow?" Hannah asked softly.
"Every day," Emma replied, squeezing her hand gently. "Every single day with you."
Hannah watched her step into the night, the quiet of the apartment wrapping around her like a soft promise — that even ordinary evenings could feel extraordinary when shared together.