Invisible Strings II

Chapter 9: Almost

Because Hannah knew, now, even without access to the memories themselves, something in her recognized what her heart had once chosen. Something that hadn't been erased.

She swallowed and cleared her throat, heat creeping faintly into her cheeks. "Coffee'll be done in a second." She looked away before Isadora could read anything in her face and focused on pouring the mugs, the dark liquid steaming between them like a fragile peace offering.

Isadora hovered a moment longer, watching her. "You didn't sleep much," she said quietly. Not a question.

Hannah shook her head. "Neither did you."

Isadora smiled faintly. "Guess we're even."

Hannah slid one of the mugs across the counter toward her. Their fingers didn't touch, but they came close enough that Hannah felt it anyway.

A pause settled between them. Not awkward. Just full.

Outside, the winter looked calmer. Cleaned of the storm. Like something new had been laid gently over the damage.

Isadora took a sip, then glanced up. "Storm's over, huh."

"Yeah," Hannah said. And then, surprised herself by adding, "Feels like it."

Isadora studied her for half a second too long, like she sensed the shift but didn't know where to place it yet. "Plans for today?" Isadora asked.

Hannah wrapped her hands around her mug, warmth seeping into her palms. "I think," she said slowly, choosing the words carefully, "I want to look around a little. Outside. Once it warms up more."

Isadora nodded. "That sounds good."

Another pause. Hannah met her eyes this time. And didn't look away. Something had started moving again. It wasn't loud. But it was alive.

Isadora held Hannah's gaze for a heartbeat longer than necessary.

Then, like she'd felt the shift too clearly, she looked down into her coffee and took another sip. "There's woods behind the cottage," she said lightly, like this was just information. Like she hadn't noticed anything else. "A trail that loops around a gazebo. We could walk it later."

She hesitated. "If you want company," she added. "Or... if you'd rather go alone, that's okay too."

Hannah's answer came quicker than she meant it to. "I'd like you to come." She blinked after it left her mouth, surprised by herself, by how natural it felt to say it. Like her body had remembered before her brain caught up.

Isadora looked back up. Something gentled in her eyes. "Yeah?" she asked.

Hannah nodded. "Yeah."

A small smile tugged at Isadora's lips. Not careful. Not restrained. Just... there. "Then it's a plan," she said. "Hopefully it gets above freezing so we don't regret it halfway through."

Hannah smiled into her mug.

Outside, the morning light settled over the fresh snow, quiet and untouched. And inside the cottage, something unspoken eased into place, not an answer, not a memory.

Just a decision.

-

The trail behind the cottage was already half-buried, but at least the sun was out now. It bounced off the snow hard enough to make Hannah squint as she stepped forward, boots crunching through the top layer. The air felt sharp but honest, the kind that stung your lungs and woke you all the way through.

Isadora walked a few steps ahead at first, carving an easy path through the drifts. The snow was lower here, thinned by the shelter of the trees. Branches stretched overhead, heavy and bowed, their needles catching the last of last night's storm like an umbrella. It was quieter in the woods. Not silent, just softened.