I spent the next two days in self care mode. I took some time for me, something I hadn’t done in months, ever since I’d come back from Norway in fact. I organized my room, spent hours in the bath and I visited the hairdresser. I asked her to add a hint of purple to my hair, and had it cut considerably shorter. The change felt invigorating and revitalizing. After that I went for a long walk by the sea and simply sat there hearing the waves, and watching the occasional seagull. I found solace in the soothing sounds of the waves and the graceful flight of seagulls. It was a moment of tranquility, a chance to clear my mind and reflect on recent events. I thought about Jason, Norway and the previous night in the ER when Chris came in. I reflected on all that happened during the past six months. Up until a couple of weeks ago life had been good. Then I’d had that argument with Jason and my life flipped itself over. I realized that I had been so busy with work that I hadn’t really had time

Joelle"So where does this leave us?" he asked, his voice carrying a hint of uncertainty, as I took slow sips from my cup of coffee. "I don’t know," I replied, the words slipping out hastily, carrying the weight of my own confusion. "Us." The word echoed in my mind, carrying a weight that stretched far beyond its simple letters. Could there truly be an "us"? The past weeks had woven a tapestry of emotions, where he had become a haven, a sanctuary in the midst of my chaos. Each visit to him had turned into a lifeline, a respite from the challenges of reality. But was he more than that? Or was he merely that, an escape, a temporary refuge from my troubles? I felt butterflies in my stomach every time I was about to meet him. It was a familiar sensation, one that had surfaced years ago, igniting my memories and emotions. Without thinking further, I looked into his eyes, closed them, leaned closer to him and kissed him. He didn’t push me away and reciprocated. At that moment in time, it f