Liv looked at the proffered book wrapped in twine, a small ember insider her seeming to glow as if it had been gently cupped and blown upon, the look in Nika's eyes encouraging. A simple gesture. A simple gift. But one without expectation, without judgement. She couldn't hide the grin on her face, the reverence with which she touched the unevenly cut rough pages, that tactile feel and pungent smell like a memory of home from a lifetime ago.
Part of her tried to temper her response. Laila had offered gifts at first too. She was not so cynical to believe that all women were like her, no. She was too much of a romantic for that. But she needed to be careful. She was on ice, now. She didn't know if it was thin or if she might slip and fall.
The gift warmed her heart, though. Just knowing Nika had even thought of her while busy trying not to die. She held it carefully and gave her a hug. Nothing more than a sister might. Nothing more. Except it was heartfelt. And it felt good.
She was shy now, of course. "I feel bad. I didn’t get you anything." She did too. Liv, already screwing it up. As usual.
She wanted this to be special and still she was failing. Stop! Stop overthinking! She breathed, hearing the quiet of the place. God’s peace.
She stilled. Notebook in one hand, she held out the other, smile returning. "Come on. Let me show you around.",
Part of her tried to temper her response. Laila had offered gifts at first too. She was not so cynical to believe that all women were like her, no. She was too much of a romantic for that. But she needed to be careful. She was on ice, now. She didn't know if it was thin or if she might slip and fall.
The gift warmed her heart, though. Just knowing Nika had even thought of her while busy trying not to die. She held it carefully and gave her a hug. Nothing more than a sister might. Nothing more. Except it was heartfelt. And it felt good.
She was shy now, of course. "I feel bad. I didn’t get you anything." She did too. Liv, already screwing it up. As usual.
She wanted this to be special and still she was failing. Stop! Stop overthinking! She breathed, hearing the quiet of the place. God’s peace.
She stilled. Notebook in one hand, she held out the other, smile returning. "Come on. Let me show you around.",