That made her happy.
That made her fulfilled.
Days passed like threads of soft gold, weaving slowly into something whole.
Her routine changed from the quiet, heavy stillness it used to be.
Now, Elena woke up with purpose.
Every day, she went to his house—
Sometimes to help with work, sometimes just to be there.
She sat in meetings beside him, slowly learning the rhythm of it all.
She watched Kalix talk, sometimes intense, sometimes calm—
But he always found a way to glance at her.
To make sure she was okay.
They talked more now—small things, real things.
She listened, and he noticed.
And he... he saw her, even in her silences
Luke had become her shadow—
Pulling her into forts made of pillows,
Laughing at her funny animal sounds,
Feeding her cookies like she was the child.
And then there were the movie nights.
All of them curled up on the couch,
Luke between them, his head on her lap,
Kalix sitting beside—shoulders close but never crossing a line.
She'd steal glances at them—
Luke smiling in his sleep, Kalix laughing softly at the screen.
And she'd think...
"Is this what family feels like?"
No one ever said it.
But it felt like one.
They included her like she belonged.
And maybe… she did.
It was like her life—
Once torn apart and scattered in places even she couldn't name—
Was quietly stitching itself back together.
No loud miracles, no dramatic changes.
Just little moments.
Tiny threads, woven in warmth.
Becoming something whole.
Becoming hers.