Moments Under The Sun.

Isa's Retu

t was the weight of returning to a world that had continued spinning without her. But she couldn't let that stop her. As the manager of a healthcare organization, sh

fixing her hair. There was a nervousness in her chest, bu

dressed-professional, put-together, as if she hadn't spent weeks in the hospital. "Are you sure yo

going back to work. I can't keep putting it off." Her hands were steady

pleading, "but your health is more important. You can't j

Claire. I'm not going to overdo it. I've been at home, in bed, for too long

ed. She had never been able to sway Isa once she made

end only had her best inter

r coworkers, her subordinates, all looking at her with a mix of surprise, admiration, and a little bit of concern. The moment she step

hind to make sure she was okay, hovering in the background, but Isa was too focused to notice. She dove into her work, her fingers flying

ymore. "Isa, you should take a break," she said,

rp and determined. "Claire, I'm fine. I've

ed to prove anything to anyone, Isa. You'v

g, Claire. I'm doing this for myself. And I've always bee

t she quickly masked with a steely resolve. "Please, stop making m

r, Isa stood up from her desk and walked to the meeting ro

– Nathan

filled with a fog of irritation. He lay still for a moment, the pillow cool against

ll. Her relentless push to turn everything into something it wasn't. His mind fought the urge to push it all aside, but the reality

led to the bathroom. The cool water felt sharp against his skin, a jolt to

to shake off the lingering tension of the morning. Aft

anding by his dresser, rifling through his things as if she had free re

" His voice was cold, cutting

had been carefully tucked away among his belongings. It was a box that had always b

curiosity and accusation. She opened it witho

nt. The chain shimmered with a muted, golden hue in the soft morning light that streamed through the large windows of the room.

nd the room were brushes, paint tubes, and open sketchbooks filled with thoughts, visions, and dreams. A large easel stood in front of the sunlit window, capturing the light of the morning. The sun itself

ng everything in a warm, almost ethereal glow. The contrast between light and shadow, the interplay of colors that seemed aliv

l said sharply, his voice low and ed

in them. "Whose is this?" Her voice held suspicion, as if she was piecing things t

d with unease. The necklace was his, but it wasn't just a piece of jewelry. It was some

're so secretive, Nathaniel," she said, her voice rising. "Who is sh

oil. "Drop it," he said th

an almost possessive expression. Her eyes flicked to Nathaniel's face, reading his ange

id defiantly, holding the necklace up to him. "You

s tumbling out with frustration. "I don't want to explain myself to yo

tion, she yanked the pendant from its chain and threw it to the ground. The necklace shattered, the p

t. "No..." he whispered, a chill running through him.

arm roughly and pulling her away from the wreckage. "What the hell i

c look in her eyes. "I just wanted to know th

rds barely audible. "Drop it, Flanell. You

or, his grip firm, his patie

er mouth, as if to protest, but the words faltered on her lips. Nathaniel did

he said again, his vo

ing-but Nathaniel wasn't having it. He stood in the doo

s voice cutting th

e look at him before she turned

m for a long time, the weight of what had just happened sinking in. The identity of the necklace's owner remained a mys

ming through the window, a part of him took solace in the golden glow. The sun. It was