Valerie glanced at him, then let out a soft laugh. "I'm always expected not to hope," she replied lightly. "Even though… hoping is human too."
Their gazes met for a brief moment.
There was no awkwardness. No tension that forced either of them to look away.
Only a quiet understanding, slowly taking shape.
Kaiser did not look at her the way most people did not with judging curiosity, nor with the kind of pity that felt unbearable. He listened. Truly listened. Even when Valerie fell silent, he did not rush to fill the space.
And it felt… comfortable.
"It's strange," Valerie murmured after a while. "I'm not usually this easy to talk to."
Kaiser smiled, warmer this time. "Perhaps because you're not being judged."
Valerie fell silent. The words were simple, yet they struck something deep within her.
