Chapter 13 — Walls & Cracks
Arin sat at the library table, books spread out like a fortress around him.
Meira slid into the chair opposite him, a mischievous smile tugging at her lips.
"Building walls again?" she teased.
He didn't look up.
"I'm studying."
"Studying or hiding?" she pressed, leaning slightly forward.
Arin's hand froze over the page. "Hiding… isn't really your business."
"Maybe not," she said softly, "but I like to think some people deserve to be seen, even if they don't want to be."
He met her eyes briefly—just a flicker. Then looked back at the page.
"You're persistent," he muttered.
"Not as persistent as you think," she replied.
"I just… don't like to give up on people worth knowing."
For a moment, silence. Not the tense silence he was used to with strangers, but a quiet pause that felt… different.
Arin finally let a small smile escape, almost hidden.
"You… might be one of those people," he whispered.
Meira grinned.
"Good. I'll take it as a start."
And for the first time in years, Arin didn't feel the need to close the walls completely.
Just a tiny crack.
Enough for someone to slip through—carefully, slowly, and maybe… gently.