Morning sunlight spilled softly across the quiet beachside café while pale ocean waves rolled endlessly against the shore beyond wide glass windows, and despite the peaceful beauty wrapping gently around the little seaside place there remained something fragile hanging between Elara and Olivia like glass already beginning to crack beneath too much pressure.
The café smelled warm.
Coffee.
Sea salt.
Fresh bread drifting softly through cool morning air carrying none of the blood and death haunting Elara's memories lately.
That almost made the quiet hurt worse.
Elara sat silently near the far corner window afterward while silver-gray eyes remained fixed absently toward the ocean now beneath pale sunlight falling softly across her tired face, and despite the elegant cream sweater wrapped loosely around her body there lingered visible exhaustion beneath her calm expression impossible hiding anymore.
She looked beautiful still.
