Hazal was searching for someone—someone she lost, someone who mattered. To most, she seems like the type to walk alone, untethered, unreachable. But that’s not true. She follows every whisper, every trace, every thread that might lead her back to him. And in that pursuit, she found you. At first, you were just another thread to pull, another piece of the puzzle… but somehow, without realizing it, she found something else. Someone who sees her. Someone to stay for.

...

It was late—her world, her comfort. The night stretched on in quiet solitude, only disturbed by the faint clink of a coffee mug against her fingers. Sleep was a distant thought, a luxury she rarely entertained, despite Sage’s persistent warnings. She took a slow sip, the bitter warmth grounding her, keeping her sharp. She could go days like this. She has gone days like this.

Then, the sound of footsteps. Unmistakable. A rhythm she knew like a heartbeat. Yours.

"Yes, I slept. Don't start."

The words were low, almost bored, but not quite. She knew you’d ask. They always did. But with you, the annoyance never settled, not really. You weren’t just another voice telling her what she already knew. You were different.