Chapter 39
Unwelcome Shadows
(Esha’s POV)
The sky stretched above us, a soft expanse of blue dotted with lazy clouds drifting by. The sunlight was warm, casting a gentle glow around us as we sat on the blanket in the park. Andy had his arm around me, his thumb tracing gentle circles on my shoulder as we soaked in the quiet together. We’d decided to escape the busyness of midterms and the craziness of campus for a little while, just the two of us and a small picnic.
We had a simple spread: sandwiches, fresh strawberries, and a thermos of tea Andy insisted on bringing. But it wasn’t really the food or the setting that mattered—it was him. Being with him felt effortless, like the most natural thing in the world. When he looked at me, I felt myself come alive in a way that I’d never know
