Consent changed the texture of choice.
Aaliyah noticed it in the smallest decisions, the ones that used to hide inside obligation. Whether to answer a message immediately. Whether to stay out a little longer. Whether to let a thought dissolve instead of following it to conclusion.
Choice no longer felt like a test.
It felt like a rhythm.
The morning began with rain.
Not dramatic, not urgent, just a steady wash against the windows that softened the edges of the city. Aaliyah stood watching it for a while, mug warming her hands, listening to the quiet percussion of water on glass.
She did not think, I should use this time.
She let the rain use her attention instead.
Rowan moved around the apartment, preparing for the day with unhurried efficiency. There was no need to coordinate schedules anymore. Their lives intersected naturally, without negotiation.
"You're smiling again," Rowan said, glancing over.
Aaliyah laughed lightly. "I think I like who I am in this weather."
