Jade sat on her couch that evening, absentmindedly scrolling through her phone, yet she wasn't really seeing anything. Her thoughts kept drifting back to Lila—the way her eyes had lingered on her during their walk, the soft brush of her hand against Jade's, and that teasing, knowing smile that had left her heart fluttering in ways she didn't fully understand.
It was strange. She had dated plenty of men before, some charming, some kind, a few who had even made her laugh—but none of them had left this lingering, confusing warmth. It wasn't infatuation in the way she knew from romantic comedies or the movies her friends gushed over. It was… something else. Something that made her question feelings she hadn't dared explore before.
Jade shook her head, sighing. Am I…? The thought hung in the air, unfinished, but heavy. Could she be… attracted to a woman? To Lila? She quickly pushed the thought aside, blaming the lingering warmth on friendship, on comfort, on the easy rhythm they shared. But deep down, she couldn't ignore it.
The next afternoon, she found herself at a small bookstore, the one where she and Lila had first met, browsing through a shelf of poetry books. She picked one up, flipping through the pages, but her mind was elsewhere. Her phone buzzed, and a message from Lila lit up the screen:
"Hey, want to grab a late coffee? I found a place with the best chocolate croissants."
Jade's heart skipped a beat. She typed back almost immediately:
"I'm there at 15."
The café was cozy and quiet, warm with soft lighting and the smell of fresh pastries. Lila was already there, waving as Jade entered. She was wearing a loose sweater that made her look effortlessly radiant, hair tucked behind one ear, eyes sparkling as she smiled.
"Hey, you made it!" Lila said, sliding into the chair across from her. "I was worried you'd change your mind."
"Never," Jade replied, smiling. "Chocolate croissants are a strong motivator."
They laughed, ordering drinks and pastries, and soon fell into their usual rhythm—talking about trivial things at first, then slowly moving into deeper conversations. Lila shared stories from work, her voice animated and expressive, while Jade found herself listening intently, noticing the subtle gestures—the way Lila tucked her hair behind her ear, the warmth in her smile, the way she leaned forward when telling a story.
Halfway through the conversation, Lila nudged Jade playfully. "You've been quiet. Something on your mind?"
Jade hesitated, twirling her spoon in her cup, heart hammering. Could she even say it aloud? That question she had been avoiding, that had kept her awake at night? Finally, she whispered, "I… I don't know what I'm feeling. Something… different. Something I can't explain."
Lila's eyes softened, and she reached across the table, brushing her fingers lightly against Jade's. "Different can be good," she said gently. "You don't have to figure it all out now. Just… let yourself feel it."
The touch sent a thrill through Jade, a spark that she couldn't ignore. She looked down, then back up at Lila, and realized her chest was tight—not with fear, not exactly, but with anticipation. She didn't know what she wanted to say, only that she wanted to stay in this moment.
They left the café together, wandering through the streets as twilight painted the sky in shades of pink and orange. Lila occasionally brushed against Jade's arm, a casual contact that made her pulse quicken. The warmth in her chest grew with each brush, each laugh, each shared glance.
"Do you ever feel like… life is more complicated than you expected?" Jade asked quietly.
"All the time," Lila replied, glancing at her with a teasing smirk. "But that's the fun part. The unexpected moments, the surprises, the feelings you didn't know you had—those are the things worth exploring."
Jade's heart skipped a beat. Exploring feelings… Could she explore this? The thought made her both nervous and excited. She wasn't sure what she was feeling yet, but she knew it was powerful, something she hadn't experienced with anyone before.
As they reached a quiet park, they stopped to sit on a bench under a streetlamp. The evening air was cool, and the city's distant hum was comforting. They fell into a comfortable silence, shoulders brushing lightly, and Jade felt the flutter in her stomach again.
Lila leaned back slightly, her gaze soft and thoughtful. "You know," she said quietly, "it's okay to be curious. It's okay to wonder about things you haven't allowed yourself to feel before."
Jade nodded slowly, words catching in her throat. "I know… I just… I've never felt like this before. It's confusing."
Lila smiled gently. "Confusing isn't bad. It means you're alive, you're open. That's a good thing."
Jade looked at her, really looked at her—the warmth in her eyes, the way her lips curved in that effortless smile. Something inside her stirred, stronger than before. She didn't know how to name it, didn't know where it would lead, but she knew she wanted to explore it.
As they stood to leave, Lila nudged her gently with her shoulder. "Same time next week?"
Jade laughed softly, a mix of nerves and excitement. "Definitely. I wouldn't miss it for the world."
Walking home under the streetlights, Jade felt a strange exhilaration. The feeling she couldn't name—the pull, the curiosity, the warmth—was growing stronger. She didn't have the answers yet, but she was ready to find them. Slowly, gently, without pressure.
For the first time in a long time, Jade realized she wasn't lost. She was discovering herself, one small spark at a time—and maybe, just maybe, Lila would be by her side when the sparks became flames.
—