Finding light in the darkest places—through love

Evelyn had never sat in silence with someone for this long before.

She and Adrian remained on the bench, the quiet stretching between them. It wasn't awkward—just… different.

Usually, the silence made her anxious. It meant she had to fill the void and say something. But with Adrian, it didn't feel like that.

He seemed content just sitting there, watching the night sky, hands tucked into his hoodie pockets.

"So,"

Adrian finally spoke, his voice low.

"What's it like inside your head?"

Evelyn snorted.

"A mess."

"Figures."

She turned to look at him.

"Why do you even care?"

He shrugged.

"Maybe I just find you interesting."

She rolled her eyes.

"You find messing with me interesting."

"That too."

Evelyn shook her head, but a tiny smile tugged at her lips.

She hated how easily he could disarm her, how quickly he could make her forget she was supposed to keep people at arm's length.

"So,"

Adrian continued, tilting his head back,

"what's one thing you'd do if you weren't so afraid of, you know… everything?"

Evelyn exhaled.

"I don't know. Travel, maybe?"

His lips quirked.

"That's a pretty safe answer."

She frowned.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I mean, that's the kind of answer people give when they don't want to say the real thing."

Evelyn hesitated.

He wasn't wrong.

"…I guess I'd like to paint again."

Adrian raised an eyebrow.

"You paint?"

"Used to."

"What happened?"

She shrugged, looking away.

"I got busy. Life got in the way."

He studied her for a moment, then leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.

"That's a load of crap."

She shot him a glare.

"Excuse me?"

"You don't just stop doing something you love because life gets busy. You stop because something made you believe it wasn't worth your time anymore."

Evelyn's chest tightened. He didn't even know her that well, but somehow, he saw straight through her.

She didn't answer.

After a moment, Adrian sighed and stood up.

"Come on."

She blinked.

"What?"

"We're going to find you some paint."

Evelyn scoffed.

"It's midnight."

"So?"

He grinned.

"Live a little, remember?"

She wanted to argue.

She wanted to say no.

But instead, she found herself standing up, following him down the dimly lit path.

Maybe—just maybe—he had a point.