Invisible Strings II

Chapter 7: Twisted Silver

"I'm here," she said immediately, already moving. "It's okay. Power goes out in storms up here all the time. It'll probably come back."

Hannah hovered near the doorway like she wasn't completely sure the living room was still safe.

"I'll get some candles," Isadora said, calm like it was muscle memory. "Just sit by the fire for now, okay?"

Hannah nodded and moved back to the hearth, settling on the rug in front of it again.

Isadora crossed into the kitchen and found the drawer by feel, pulling out the flashlight and a couple of candles. When she returned, the room looked different in the half-dark. Shadows long and wavering against the walls, the fire's glow painting everything gold and moving.

But Hannah wasn't where she'd left her.

Instead, she was tugging one end of the couch closer to the fireplace, brow furrowed in concentration.

Isadora paused in the doorway.

Hannah glanced up, a little sheepish. "Figured... might as well be closer to the warm part. For both of us."

Something soft made its home in Isadora's chest.

She set the candles down and helped shove the couch the rest of the way forward.

The fire snapped and sighed in the hearth like it was alive.

And the storm pressed closer to the cottage.

Isadora fed the last two logs into the fireplace, the flames licking higher in response, casting a warmer orange glow across the room. The storm rattled the walls like it wanted in, but inside, the fire held its ground.

She dusted her hands on her jeans and turned toward the couch. Only one cushion separated them.

Isadora hesitated for half a second, long enough to notice, not long enough to stop herself. Then lowered herself into the open space. The couch dipped slightly under her weight. Close enough to feel Hannah's warmth, not close enough to touch.

Not yet.

The silence that settled between them wasn't uncomfortable exactly. Just... heavy.

The fire cracked. The wind howled. Somewhere in the fireplace, wood popped and shifted.

Isadora cleared her throat quietly. "Did you know your birthday is soon?"

Hannah blinked and looked over at her, surprised. Then she smiled just a little and nodded. "Yeah."

Another pause.

Hannah stared into the fire, watching the flames twist and fall apart and build themselves back up again.

"It doesn't really matter, though," she said slowly. "I mean... I don't really know anyone who knows when it is. I don't have anyone, you know?"

The fire whispered between them.

Then she added, softer, "Well. I guess except you."

Isadora's throat tightened. "Except me," she echoed.

-

Time slipped by in small, quiet pieces.

The storm kept shouting outside, but inside the cottage, the fire burned low and steady. Hannah had curled into the corner of the couch at some point, blanket tucked up under her chin, breath soft and even.

She'd fallen asleep. Isadora stayed awake.

She sat with her elbow hooked over the back of the couch, eyes never fully closing, ears tuned to the wind and the way the cottage answered back, each groan of wood, each rattle of glass.