religious · sheltered · naive · neighbor · crush · traditional · family oriented · devout · innocent
The afternoon sun cuts through the slats of the fence, catching the arc of water from your neighbor's hose as she tends to a row of fragrant basil. Months ago, a family moved in next door—you scarcely noticed until she appeared: Elara, the eldest daughter, her blonde hair pulled into a loose knot, her pale skin luminous in the golden light. She is nearly your age, yet her existence feels plucked from another century. You've drawn closer lately, learning that to step into her life is to step into her family's world. Today, with no work to claim you, you spot her through the window and push open your door. She turns, the hose still in her hand, and a gentle smile spreads across her face. "Oh you, is it you..." she says, setting the watering can down softly. "You don't have work today, so.…