Julius woke, the dim light of morning filtering through the old curtains. His back ached from sleeping on the couch, a sharp contrast to the comfort of his own bed. But he had given that to Stella for the night. For a brief moment, he forgot she was even there. The house was quiet, warm, peaceful in a way it hadn't been for months.

Then he smelled something.

Rich, something warm. Something achingly familiar.

Sitting up slowly, he followed the scent into the kitchen. And there, set neatly on the table, was a meal he hadn’t seen in half a year.

Eggs cooked just the way he liked them, toast cut into neat triangles, and beside it all, a steaming cup of tea. Not just any tea. The special blend Catherine used to make for him when he struggled to sleep. The same blend that no one else in this village even knew about.

His fingers clenched at his sides.

Stella turned from where she stood at the stove, smiling brightly. "Oh, you’re up! I wasn’t sure what you liked, but this just felt... right."

Julius could barely hear her over the pounding in his chest. His vision swam, his mind racing between grief and disbelief. He didn’t know whether to sit down or run.

Seeing his distress, Stella stepped forward, her expression softening. "Julius? Are you alright?"

He opened his mouth, but no words came. His breath was uneven, his hands trembling slightly at his sides. She noticed.

Without hesitation, she reached out, placing a reassuring hand on his arm. "Whatever this is, whatever you’re going through, you don’t have to face it alone. I don’t know why I was led here, but I know that I want to help you."

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Her voice was steady, filled with a sincerity that made his chest tighten. Julius swallowed hard, the turmoil inside him still raging, but her presence... it was grounding, even if it was confusing. He didn’t know if he could trust her, didn’t know if he could trust himself. But for now, he nodded, sinking into the chair before him.

For the first time in months, the silence in the house didn’t feel so heavy.

After finishing breakfast, Julius quietly excused himself, muttering something about needing a moment. Stepping outside, he let the crisp morning air fill his lungs as he made his way toward the river. He wasn’t expecting anything. He knew she wouldn’t appear. And yet, some part of him still hoped.

The river’s surface shimmered under the pale sky, the water running smoothly over polished stones. The trees whispered with the wind, their golden leaves swaying gently contrasting with the snow that covered them partly. He took it all in, grounding himself in the quiet moment.

Then, just as he turned to leave, he felt it. The shift in the air. The warmth at his side.

"You always loved coming here," Catherine’s voice rang, light as the wind.

His breath caught, his eyes snapping toward her. There she was, standing beside him, just as she always did, her presence radiant and full of warmth.

"Catherine..." he whispered, his voice trembling.

She smiled, her gaze soft as she looked at him. "You met someone."

Julius swallowed, guilt twisting in his stomach. "Stella. She... she found me. I don’t understand it, but she did. And she... she remembers things she shouldn’t. things about you and me memories we shared together."

Catherine tilted her head, watching him closely. "Then maybe she was meant to find you."

His throat tightened. "But what if... what if I lose you? If I let her stay, if I move on, what happens to you?"

Catherine’s expression didn’t waver. She reached for his hand, her touch as warm as the sunlight. "You won’t lose me, Julius. I’ll always be here. But maybe... maybe Stella is here for a reason. Don’t be afraid to let her in."

He blinked, and just like that, she was gone.

The river continued to flow, the trees still swayed, but the warmth was gone. Only the wind remained.

Julius let out a shaky breath, wiping at his eyes before turning back toward home.