Chapter 6: Lost and Found

He glanced at the closet, at the row of carefully arranged clothes, and let himself hope for the future they might share. He traced the edge of her favorite scarf, the fabric soft beneath his fingers.

Everything in the room carried Lauren’s scent, as if she’d never left his side.

He breathed deeply, letting the familiar fragrance soothe him. The apartment felt less like a fortress and more like a home.

As night deepened, the apartment grew quiet.

The city sounds faded, replaced by the gentle hum of the air conditioner and the distant rumble of thunder. The glow of the city lights flickered on the ceiling, painting shifting patterns across the walls.

Earlier, Lauren had coaxed Evan to lie beside her, tucked him in, then obediently lay flat at his side, holding his wrist in her small hand and softly saying, "Sleep."

She squeezed his wrist, her thumb tracing lazy circles on his skin, her voice soft as a lullaby. The sheets were cool against their skin, the room dim and peaceful.

She should have been asleep by now.

But the room was filled with a gentle tension—neither willing to let go, both afraid to break the spell. The sound of their breathing mingled with the distant patter of rain.

Evan lay on his side facing her, eyes wide open, his heart wrapped in a feeling called contentment—unable to sleep. He watched the gentle rise and fall of her chest, memorizing the rhythm.

...How could he sleep?

He smiled to himself, knowing he’d never felt so alive, so aware of every heartbeat. The city’s glow filtered through the blinds, casting faint stripes across the bed.

He was afraid that if he closed his eyes, like in so many dreams before, he’d wake to find his sister gone.

He reached out, just to reassure himself she was real, his fingers brushing the back of her hand. Her skin was warm and soft beneath his touch.

The person beside him breathed evenly, her chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm.

He counted her breaths, grounding himself in the present. The gentle hum of the air conditioner was a soothing backdrop.

In the darkness, Lauren’s features were blurred.

But he could still see the outline of her smile, the curve of her lips, the gentle slope of her nose. The moonlight painted her in silver, ethereal and real all at once.

Evan leaned in, stopping just short of her lips, only two fingers away, her breath brushing his nose. He hesitated, caught between longing and fear, his pulse racing.

...He realized he’d gotten used to doing this—sneaking close to Lauren when she wasn’t looking. It was a guilty pleasure, a habit he’d picked up in the lonely years without her.

It had become a habit, always afraid she’d notice and dislike him.

He held his breath, afraid to break the fragile peace between them.

A hand pressed firmly on the back of his neck, pulling him down, and their lips met—soft and warm. The taste of mint lingered on her lips, her skin warm beneath his touch.

She smiled against his lips, her laughter a gentle exhale. The sound was soft, like the brush of silk sheets in the quiet room.

Lauren’s lips still tasted faintly of toothpaste, the corners of her mouth curving as if she were smiling. She traced his jaw with her thumb, her touch feather-light.

"What are you hesitating for? You don’t have to be shy. If you want to kiss me, just kiss." Her voice was as light as a feather on water, full of laughter. She winked, teasing him, her eyes sparkling in the darkness.

After a few deep kisses, Lauren let go.

She rolled onto her back, sighing contentedly. The sheets were cool against her skin, the city’s glow painting soft lines across the ceiling.

"I can’t sleep either," she said.

She stretched her arms above her head, letting out a little yawn. The sound of the air conditioner hummed softly in the background.

"I thought..."

Evan propped himself up on one elbow, curiosity in his eyes.

"You thought I was asleep? I’m very good at pretending." Lauren laughed, her gaze distant, as if recalling a similar night. She nudged him playfully. "You always were easy to fool."

Evan shifted, resting his head on her shoulder, one arm around her waist, the other still held in her hand. "Why can’t you sleep?"

He traced lazy circles on her hip, his voice barely above a whisper. The city lights flickered in his eyes.

"Same reason as you."

She squeezed his hand, her fingers lacing through his. The warmth of his palm was comforting.

Lauren patted his hand around her waist, covering it with her own. She pressed a kiss to his forehead, her touch gentle and reassuring.

"This time it’s real. Let’s sleep."

She smiled, eyes fluttering shut. "We’ll talk more in the morning."

Let’s sleep. There would be plenty to say to Evan tomorrow.

She drifted off, comforted by the warmth of his embrace. The city’s lullaby—rain, traffic, distant music—carried her to sleep.

When Lauren woke, the sun was already high. After such a sleepless night, she had gotten up late. The scent of fresh coffee drifted in from the kitchen.

She squinted at the sunlight streaming through the curtains, stretching languidly before sitting up. The sheets were tangled around her legs, cool against her skin.

Evan was nowhere in the apartment, only a sticky note left behind:

"Had something at the office. I’ll be back soon with breakfast."

She smiled at his neat handwriting, the note a small reminder of his care. She traced the letters with her finger, tucking the note into her phone case.