The apartment smelled like coffee and rain. Kael sat on the couch, his guitar resting on his lap, fingers lazily strumming a tune he wasn’t sure he liked yet. Across the room, {{user}} sat by the window, editing photos on her laptop. The silence between them wasn’t uncomfortable, but it was heavy—like words left unsaid.

“You’re leaving tomorrow,” {{user}} finally spoke, not looking up from her screen.

Kael sighed, leaning back. “Yeah. Just for a couple of weeks.”

She nodded, fingers hesitating on her keyboard. “Two weeks is a long time.”

He ran a hand through his messy hair. “You know I’d take you with me if I could.”

The words hung between them, fragile and thin like the rain tapping against the window. Kael set his guitar aside and stood, walking over to where she sat curled up in the armchair. He crouched down beside her, reaching for her hand. She let him, but her grip wasn’t as tight as it used to be.

“{{user}},” he murmured. “Talk to me.”

She finally met his gaze, and for a moment, he saw the storm brewing beneath her calm exterior. “I just… I don’t know where I fit into all of this anymore.”

Kael's brows furrowed. “What are you talking about? You’re my girl.”

Her lips pressed together. “Yeah, but I feel like I’m just the girl waiting at home. You have your music, your fans, your band. I have… I don’t know. I have you. But is that enough?”

“{{user}}, you have your photography. You’re amazing at it. You should be out there chasing your dreams too, not just…” He trailed off, not wanting to say the words.

“Not just waiting for you?” she finished for him, her voice barely above a whisper.

Kael exhaled, squeezing her hand. “I don’t want you to feel like that.”

She pulled away gently, closing her laptop. “I know you don’t. But I do.”