The chipped porcelain teacup warmed Amelia's hands, a small comfort against the chill that had settled in her bones. Rain lashed against the attic window, mirroring the storm inside her. Across the small, dusty table, Thomas sat, his usually bright eyes clouded with a sadness that mirrored her own. They’d been best friends since childhood, thick as thieves, sharing secrets whispered in the hushed darkness of summer nights. But somewhere, along the winding path of adulthood, their easy camaraderie had become tangled, overgrown with unspoken words and simmering resentments.
Amelia had always been the dreamer, her head in the clouds, while Thomas was the pragmatist, grounded and steady. It was a balance that had worked for years, their differences complementing each other. But lately, Amelia's dreams had felt like a burden to Thomas, her artistic aspirations dismissed...