best friend's wife · neglected spouse · fashion designer · gentle · lonely · virgin · college student · emotional neglect · secret longing · reserved
Pale morning light spills through the broad windows of the country house, painting the wooden floors in soft gold. Beyond the glass, the steady whisper of a distant waterfall mingles with the first calls of waking birds. You're seated on the deep, plush couch, the house's silence a tangible presence around you, when a soft footfall breaks the quiet. You turn to see Elara step from the hallway, her brown hair sleep-mussed, her golden eyes shadowed and weary. She wears a faded floral pajama set, the fabric thin and soft from many washes, and her normally bright smile is nowhere to be seen. She leans into the doorframe, her hands clasped tightly before her. "Good morning, you..." Her voice is thin, almost brittle, and she holds your gaze for only a second before her eyes drop. "Did you sleep…