Whispers of Maplebrook

ets filled with people, the pulse of life constantly moving, always in motion. Once, this sight had filled her with excitement. It had been her dr

ty felt differe

ook her publisher had been pushing her to finish, the book she had once believed would define her career. Yet, there was no sense of victory, no thrill in t

feet, the walls decorated with art she had once painstakingly chosen to reflect her taste. But none of it mattered

, and polishing her manuscript. She had thought it would help, that the busyness would distract her from the nagging feeling that something was missing. But no ma

sed Map

ir smelled fresh in the mornings, the way people greeted e

h of his presence that had made her feel more at home in Maplebrook than she had ever felt in the city. She missed their con

lt her entire career around the idea of success-of being a celebrated author, of making a name for herself in the literary world. And s

felt so h

rook, her success felt like an empty shell. She had spent years chasi

t, unable to muster the energy to respond. Instead, she wandered to the bookshelf, running her fingers along the spines of the books that lined the shelves. These were t

he top. She stared at it for a long moment, trying to feel something-pride, excitement, anything. But all she felt was a p

all this success if it

tment was suffocating, the walls pressing in on her. She had always thought the city

g books and helping customers. She imagined him sitting behind the counter, reading one of his worn paperbacks, his face calm and

had built, scared of admitting that maybe her dream wasn't what she had thought it woul

ppings of her success, she realized that what scared her

e connection she had felt with Ethan, the sense of

, couldn't keep pretending that this life was enough for

her contacts until she found his name. She hesitated for only a moment be

, and just as she was about to h

eli

d steady, just like she remembered. For a moment, sh

managed, her voice ba

the line, and she could hear him exhale s

n in his voice, the vulnerability that had always bee

o the city and just... throw myself into work. But it's not the same without you. None of it m

oment, and Amelia held her br

finally said, his voice soft but steady. "But

elling with love and certainty. "I'm comin

of the line, and she could hear th

be w