The shop was dark except for the soft glow from the streetlights outside.
Lucy sat on the counter, swinging her legs slowly, while Harper wiped down the last of the tables.

The day’s laughter had faded, leaving a comfortable silence between them.

“You’re quiet,” Harper said eventually, tossing the rag into the laundry bin.

Lucy shrugged, tracing patterns on the countertop with her finger.
“Just… thinking.”

Harper leaned back against a chair, arms crossed. “Thinking about a certain real estate agent who can’t seem to leave you alone?”

Lucy rolled her eyes but didn’t deny it.

Harper nudged gently. “You like him.”

Lucy sighed heavily. “That’s not the point.”

“Then what is?”

Lucy didn’t answer right away. The words caught somewhere deep inside, heavy and sticky.

Finally, she whispered, “It’s not just about liking someone, Harp. You know that.”

Harper’s teasing faded, her expression turning soft.

Lucy stared out the window, into the velvet night.
“You remember how Mom was after Dad died.”

Harper nodded silently.

“They were… everything to each other,” Lucy continued, voice low. “They built their whole world around their love. And when he was gone…” She swallowed hard. “She couldn’t survive it. It broke her. Literally.”

Harper reached over, squeezing Lucy’s hand tightly.

“I watched her fall apart, Harper. We both did. And I swore — I swore I’d never let myself be destroyed like that. No matter how good it feels… loving someone that much terrifies me.”

Harper was quiet for a long moment.
When she spoke, her voice was calm and sure. “You’re not Mom.”

“I know,” Lucy whispered. “But… what if I’m not strong enough either?”

“And what if you are?” Harper countered gently. “Love didn’t destroy her, Luce. Losing it did. That’s a risk no matter what we do. You can’t live your life barricaded behind fear.”

Lucy blinked fast, willing away the burning in her eyes.

“I’m just… cautious. Especially after everything with Andrew.”

Harper gave a soft, bittersweet smile. “Andrew wasn’t wrong for me. We were just… wrong for each other at that time. Right person, wrong moment. It happens.”

Lucy leaned her head on Harper’s shoulder, breathing in her sister’s steady presence.

“I don’t want to lose myself,” Lucy admitted. “I don’t want to fall so hard that I can’t get back up.”

“You won’t,” Harper said firmly. “You’re building a life you love, with or without anyone else. Loving someone… doesn’t erase that. It should make it stronger.”

For a long moment, they just sat there — two sisters trying to patch together hearts that had seen too much loss but still dared to dream.

Outside, the world kept moving.
Inside, Lucy wondered if maybe — just maybe — it was time to move too.