Chapter 2
— —when love became a routine
But love, like all living things, changes.
Years passed. The same apartment that once echoed with laughter now held long silences. The little notes turned into reminders—buy bread, pay bills, don't forget the meeting.
Life moved faster than their feelings Aiden came home late from work, tired, distracted. Lina watched him eat dinner with the same expression one wears in a waiting room—present, but far away.
She wanted him to look at her the way he used to—like she was a story he wanted to keep reading.
One night, lying side by side, staring at the ceiling, Lina whispered, "Do you still love me like before?"
Aiden didn't answer at first. His silence was heavy. Finally, he said, "I don't know what's happening to us. I feel like we're close but miles apart."
Lina turned away, her eyes filling with tears in the dark.