"It feels quiet here," Ariana said as she filled the spoon with some broth and brought it to her lips.
Adrian smiled faintly. "I felt it too."
The silence itself wasn't bothersome—far from it. He and Ariana usually shared dinner in peaceful quiet, and they both enjoyed it. But tonight, the absence felt different. Lately, they had grown used to hearing a certain girl's voice—one that was always vibrant, expressive, and full of life.
She would praise the food, grumble about eating greens, or suddenly start sharing stories from her past—often without context or warning.
Adrian looked up from his bowl and asked, "Didn't you say you didn't like how much she talked?"
Ariana nodded. "The first day, it was a little annoying hearing her whine about everything. But… soon, I started to understand her. She's incredibly pure. She holds back a lot, but once she's with someone she trusts, she turns into a chatterbox."
