"Hi... you were in there for a long time," he said, walking toward her with his hands in his pockets. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, everything is fine," Natalya said, falling into step beside him as they began walking.

"It's just... we started talking and then we got carried away. And then we played a game. Dominoes," she added, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

Christian glanced sideways at her, catching the softness in her expression. "Dominoes, huh? That sounds... surprisingly therapeutic."

She laughed lightly. "It kind of was. I was surprised when Dr. Mireille asked me if I wanted to play a game. She has a room full of all sorts of games and out of everything I chose Dominoes. It was refreshing you know."

Christian nodded. "Sometimes that's all you need. A little reset."

They walked in silence for a few moments, the rhythm of their footsteps syncing as the breeze stirred the trees around them. The scent of lavender still clung faintly to her clothes, as if the therapy room hadn't quite let go of her yet.

"So," he said finally, glancing at her with a slight tilt of his head, "do you want to walk, or should we catch a bus back?"

She looked ahead at the gently winding road. The sun was beginning to dip, casting soft golden light across the sidewalk and the tops of the trees. "It's just thirty minutes," she said thoughtfully. "Let's walk. If you are fine by it."

Christian smiled. "Walking it is."

They crossed the street, their shadows stretching long behind them as they followed the path lined with swaying grass and scattered petals The air was cool, not cold, and the sky was slowly melting into dusky hues.

Lavender, soft rose, and gold streaks on the horizon.

"So," Christian said, breaking the comfortable silence, "did you win?"

Natalya gave him a sideways look, playful. "At dominoes? I did, actually."

He laughed. "Nice. Bet she didn't see that coming."

"She said it wasn't about winning," Natalya replied, mock serious. "But I think she was a little annoyed I beat her three times in a row."

Christian raised an eyebrow. "Therapist or not, no one likes a losing streak."

They both laughed, the sound echoing softly down the empty sidewalk.

After a while, Christian asked, "Do you feel better? After the session?"

Natalya thought about it for a moment. "Yeah. I mean, I'm not magically healed or anything. But it felt nice not to talk about the hard stuff for once. Just... to be present. To laugh. To play a silly game and not feel like I was being observed."

Christian nodded slowly, his voice quiet. "That's important. You need those moments too, you know? The ones that feel normal."

"Yeah," she said, her tone gentle. "I'm starting to understand that."

The rest of the walk passed in a kind of quiet harmony, with the sun dipping lower and the world beginning to slow around them.

By the time they reached the edge of Oakridge, the sky had begun to darken—not from the setting sun alone, but from the heavy clouds rolling in from the west.

The wind had picked up slightly, carrying the scent of rain and something colder, sharper.

Natalya glanced up at the sky. "Looks like a storm's coming."

Christian followed her gaze, then nodded. "Yeah. We might want to pick up the pace."

"Yeah," she murmured, eyes still on the clouds. "Looks like it's going to be a big one."

All around them, people were beginning to pack up and close down for the day, slipping into shops, pulling jackets tighter, or heading home.
The neighborhood seemed to brace itself as the approaching storm cast a shadow over the quiet streets.

"Let's go," Christian said, nodding toward the bakery.

He had parked his motorcycle there. When she caught up to him, he handed her a helmet.
"Here," he said, his voice steady but urgent. "Put this on."

Natalya took it without a word and slid it over her head as he climbed onto the bike and started it.

"I'll drop you off at the cabin," he added, glancing back at her. "This way it will be easier. For both of us."

Natalya climbed onto the bike behind him, gripping the sides carefully. The wind had grown stronger now, curling around them with a low howl, but the rain still hadn't started. The clouds hung heavy and ominous overhead, like the sky was holding its breath.

The engine rumbled to life beneath them, and Christian eased the motorcycle out onto the road. They moved quickly, the streetlights beginning to flicker on as dusk deepened into something darker.

The town slipped past in a blur of shuttered windows and dim storefronts. The once warm golden tones of sunset had been swallowed by a steel-gray twilight, and the only sounds were the engine's hum and the distant rustle of leaves in the wind.

By the time they turned onto the narrower road that led toward the cabin, the sky was nearly black, broken only by the occasional flicker of lightning far off on the horizon.

The forest around them thickened, and the familiar landmarks grew harder to make out in the dark. Still, there was a quiet sort of comfort in it. Being in motion, being together, and the storm not yet touching them.

Christian slowed as they neared the gravel path leading to the cabin. The headlight cast a pale circle across the overgrown edges of the trail, illuminating the soft sway of grass and the low-hanging branches.

He stopped just short of the porch and cut the engine. The sudden silence rang loud in her ears.

Natalya pulled off the helmet, brushing a few strands of hair out of her face.
"Thanks," she said softly, stepping down from the bike.

Christian swung one leg over and stood next to her. "You good?"

She nodded. "Yeah... I am. Still no rain."

He looked up. "Not yet. But it's close."

They stood there for a moment, the air thick with the scent of wet earth and tension that hadn't quite broken.

"Do you want me to stay over?" he asked, his voice low, a trace of something unreadable beneath the words.

"Umm... no, I'll be alright," Natalya said after a pause, handing the helmet back to him. "Get home safe. I'll call you if anything comes up."

Christian took the helmet, eyes lingering on her for a second longer than necessary. "Okay... but call me if anything happens. Keep your phone with you, alright?"

She nodded.

"Bolt the doors properly," he added. "Sometimes the power might cut off, so you might have to light some candles or use the lantern."

"I will," she promised, offering a faint smile.

"Go inside," he said as he stared at her.

She lingered for a heartbeat longer, then gave a small nod and walked toward the cabin door. The creak of the porch beneath her feet was the only sound as Christian stood by the bike, watching her disappear into the shadows.

As soon as she went in and bolted the door she heard the engine hum into life again and the sound of the motorcycle fading into the distance. The stillness of the night quickly returned, but with a sense of impending tension, as if the storm was holding its breath just beyond the horizon.

Natalya took a slow breath, walking deeper into the cabin. The familiar creak of the floorboards underfoot was strangely comforting, but the air felt thick with the weight of the unknown. She moved to the window, pulling the curtains slightly aside to peek out.

The sky had darkened significantly, the clouds swirling ominously. A flash of lightning lit up the distant sky, followed by a deep rumble of thunder. The storm was almost there.

Natalya turned away, making her way to the kitchen. She moved mechanically, opening a cupboard to pull out a candle and a lighter. The power wasn't off yet, but she knew better than to assume it would stay on. It was always the small things that caught her off guard.

As she lit the candle, a sudden gust of wind rattled the windows. She winced, setting the candle down and walking to the door to double-check the locks. She turned the bolt with a soft click, her fingers lingering on the cool metal as she considered Christian's warning.

Stay safe. Call me if anything happens.

She took another deep breath, glancing back at the darkened window. The storm hadn't arrived yet, but she could feel its weight in the air.

Quietly, she headed upstairs and pulled out a black sweater and wide-legged black pants. She changed quickly, the soft fabric grounding her somehow. Then she padded back downstairs, sank into the cushions.

The tension hadn't quite broken, and for a moment, she wondered if she'd be able to sleep at all tonight.

But the night stretched ahead, and she knew she'd have to face whatever came next.

 Word count- 1444