13. Sarah: A step forward

Sarah's Point of view:

As I walked into the house, the aroma of Emily's cooking enveloped me, immediately lifting my spirits. I had just returned from the café, where I had run into Ethan, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of hope that I hadn't felt in a long time.

"Hey, Em!" I called out, dropping my bag onto the floor. "Something smells amazing in here!"

Emily poked her head out of the kitchen, a flour-dusted apron wrapped around her waist. "Hey, girl! I'm making your favorite. How was your day?"

I slid onto a stool at the counter, taking a deep breath as I tried to process everything that had happened. "It was...interesting," I said finally. "I had my lawyer appointment this morning, and then I ran into Ethan at the café."

Emily's eyes widened. "Ethan? As in, the guy from the accident?”

I nodded, feeling a flutter in my chest. "The same one. We talked for a bit, and...I don't know, Em. There's just something about him that makes me feel seen, you know?"

Emily smiled knowingly