Paper has a sound.
Most people do not hear it.
Most people do not care.
But I do.
Shhhk.
Rustle.
Tap.
Old paper breathes. It sighs. It remembers.
The workshop was quiet except for the ticking clock and Theo's ridiculous humming.
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
Theo dragged his chair across the wooden floor.
SCRRRAPE.
"For fuck's sake, Theo," I muttered.
His humming stopped.
"That's called ambiance," he said.
"That's called auditory torture."
Theo leaned back, arms behind his head. Crack.
"You're in a mood."
"I work with human emotions for eight hours a day."
"Fair."
I picked up the first envelope.
The moment my fingers touched it—
Warmth.
Soft. Gentle. Familiar.
Love.
My chest tightened slightly.
Theo watched my face like a bored scientist.
"Well?"
"She loved him," I said quietly.
Theo smirked. "They always do."
"She really loved him."
"They always really do."
I slid the letter out.
Shhhk.
"My dearest…"
Hope tangled with fear inside my ribs. Tenderness soaked into my skin. The writer's longing curled around my lungs like smoke.
God, emotions were exhausting.
Theo tilted his head.
"Sad ending?"
"Uncertain ending."
"Ouch."
"Yeah."
I placed it aside and grabbed another envelope.
Cold.
Sharp.
Regret.
"Jesus," I whispered.
Theo winced. "That bad?"
"He left her."
Theo clicked his tongue. "Classic humanity."
"I hate people."
"You literally live inside their feelings."
"I know. That's why."
Before he could reply—
DING.
The bell above the door rang.
Mom stepped inside, carrying lavender and winter air with her.
"Liora?"
My shoulders dropped instantly.
"Hi, Mom."
Theo waved. "Mrs. Vance."
She smiled warmly. "Hello, Theo. Still distracting my daughter?"
"Professionally."
Mom chuckled.
Tap tap.
Her shoes crossed the floor.
"You look tired," she said.
"I feel tired."
Theo nodded. "She absorbs heartbreak for a living."
Mom frowned slightly.
"You should rest more."
"I can't."
"You must."
"Mom."
"Liora."
Theo raised his hands. "Nope. Not my fight."
Mom placed a hand over mine.
No emotional surge.
Just warmth.
Real warmth.
"You cannot keep carrying everyone's pain," she said softly.
"I'm not carrying it."
"You are."
"It's just feelings."
"It's never just feelings."
My throat tightened.
Because she wasn't wrong.
Because she was never wrong.
Before I could respond—
DING.
The bell rang again.
A delivery clerk stepped inside holding a small parcel.
"Restoration workshop?"
Theo stood. "That's us."
Thump.
The package landed on my desk.
Plain brown paper. No markings.
Theo nudged it toward me.
"Another emotional grenade."
Mom sighed. "Be gentle."
"I'm always gentle."
Theo snorted.
I cut the string.
Scratch.
Inside—
One envelope.
White.
Perfect.
Untouched by time.
My fingers froze.
Theo leaned forward.
"What?"
Mom's voice lowered. "Liora?"
Slowly—
I touched it.
And—
Nothing.
No warmth.
No ache.
No sadness.
No love.
Silence.
My heartbeat stumbled.
Theo blinked. "Well?"
"I don't feel anything."
Theo laughed lightly. "Impossible."
"I'm serious."
Mom leaned closer.
"Try again."
I pressed harder.
Still—
Nothing.
Theo's voice dropped. "That's not normal."
"No shit."
My pulse quickened.
Hands trembling, I opened the envelope.
Shhhk.
A single letter slid out.
Fresh ink.
Steady handwriting.
My skin prickled.
I touched the words.
And—
Warmth flooded my chest.
Not frantic.
Not trembling.
Not desperate.
Calm.
Deep.
Unshakable love.
My breath caught.
"Oh…"
Theo leaned closer.
"What?"
Mom whispered, "Liora…"
"This…"
The emotion wrapped around me like quiet sunlight. No fear. No doubt. No hesitation.
Just love.
Pure.
Theo's eyes widened.
"That's strong."
"It's… different."
Mom's voice was tight.
"Different how?"
"There's no sadness."
Theo frowned. "There's always sadness."
"There's no fear."
"There's always fear."
"There's no uncertainty."
Silence.
Even the clock seemed quieter.
Tick… Tick…
Mom whispered, "Read it."
I nodded.
"My love…"
The feeling pulsed steadily.
"I have carried these words for too long…"
Theo shifted. Rustle.
"I do not know if you will ever read this…"
A soft tremor of longing.
"I only know that loving you has never once felt like a mistake."
My chest burned.
Theo whispered, "Holy shit…"
Mom's grip tightened.
"Continue."
"I will wait, even if waiting becomes my only truth."
Tears blurred my vision.
Because the love did not hurt.
It simply existed.
I flipped the page.
And then—
My stomach dropped.
"I will always—"
Blank.
No name.
No signature.
No ending.
Theo blinked.
"That's it?"
Mom whispered, "No…"
My fingers trembled.
Because emotions still lingered.
Alive.
Present.
Waiting.
Theo's voice was uneasy.
"Where's the rest?"
I stared at the unfinished line.
My pulse thundered.
Because this was not memory.
Not past.
This feeling was—
Now.
Theo spoke quietly.
"Liora…"
Mom's voice barely audible.
"What does that mean?"
I swallowed.
Dry throat. Racing heart.
Because I knew.
I absolutely fucking knew.
And before I could answer—
DING.
The bell rang.
Slow.
Heavy.
Footsteps crossed the floor.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
A voice.
Low. Calm.
"Excuse me… is this the restoration workshop?"
To be continued...