A few minutes after I returned home, still trembling from the disappointment and heartbreak at Raymond's empty apartment, there was a soft knock on my door. My heart jumped.
I hesitated, my mind spinning with thoughts I didn't want to admit. What now? Is he here to humiliate me? Is someone following me? My hands tightened on the doorknob as I braced myself.
When I opened the door, I saw Raymond standing there—but he wasn't alone. A woman was with him, smiling politely. My first instinct was to step back, to slam the door, to hide the fluttering panic in my chest.
Great. Just great. What now? Are they here to mock me again?
Raymond caught my hesitation immediately. "Lily," he said softly, his voice calm, grounding, "please don't misunderstand. I came with my sister—she's just visiting for a few days, and I wanted to introduce you."
I blinked, caught off guard. "Your… sister?" I whispered, the tension in my shoulders easing slightly, though my heart still raced.
"Yes," he said, glancing at the woman. "This is Ariana. She's a teacher in town."
Ariana stepped forward with a polite smile. "Hello, Lily. It's nice to meet you," she said warmly, her tone gentle and nonjudgmental.
Hearing that it was his sister—not some stranger or someone with malicious intentions—sent a glimmer of relief through me. For the first time in hours, I felt my panic retreat, replaced with cautious curiosity.
Raymond gestured toward his sister. "I just wanted you two to meet. She's leaving soon, so we won't stay long."
Ariana nodded politely, and we exchanged brief pleasantries. "I've heard a little about you from Raymond," she said, smiling softly. "It's nice to finally meet the neighbor he's been talking about."
I managed a small smile, my nerves slowly loosening. Despite everything, there was something comforting about this interaction—something human, ordinary, and safe.
After a few minutes, Ariana excused herself. Raymond walked her to the door, then returned, his expression unreadable.
He looked at me and asked, quietly but pointedly, "Did you think I didn't see you earlier, when you came by my apartment?"
I froze, caught off guard. "I… I thought… nobody saw me," I admitted.
Raymond's gaze softened. "I saw you. That's why I brought my sister. I knew you might think the worst if I came alone. I didn't want you to feel embarrassed or misunderstood."
I blinked, struck by the care in his words. He had been thinking of me, of how I might feel, even while dealing with his own responsibilities. A small warmth spread through my chest, cautious and fragile, like the first light of dawn through heavy clouds.
"I… I didn't expect…" I murmured, struggling to articulate the surprise and relief twisting inside me.
Raymond offered a small, reassuring smile. "You don't have to say anything. I just wanted you to know that you're not invisible. And I'm not just doing things without thinking of how they affect you."
I nodded, my throat tight. There was still so much I didn't understand, so much fear and hurt wrapped around me, but for the first time that day, I felt seen without judgment, without expectation.
It was a strange, fleeting glimmer of hope—one that didn't erase the past, didn't fix everything, but reminded me that some people could be kind and protective without hidden agendas.
I let the moment linger quietly, appreciating the calm between us, the ordinary human connection that felt almost sacred after months of betrayal, heartbreak, and fear.