Through the Silence
Ivy had always admired Zoe from afar. They were coworkers at a small independent bookstore, where Ivy kept to herself, content with the quiet. Zoe, on the other hand, was loud, unapologetic, and always surrounded by a crowd. She had that effortless charm, the kind that made everyone gravitate toward her, including Ivy, though Ivy had always kept her distance.
One evening, after a long day of customers and re-shelving books, Ivy found herself sitting alone in the back of the store, reading a book on the couch, when Zoe came in.
“You’re still here?” Zoe asked, surprised, as she leaned against the doorframe.
Ivy looked up, a little startled. “Yeah, just trying to finish this.”
Zoe grinned. “You know, I’m pretty sure that book is cursed. I’ve never seen anyone actually get through it.”
Ivy laughed softly, pushing her glasses up her nose. “Well, I’m determined to finish it.”
Zoe stepped into the room, settling down beside Ivy on the couch. The sudden proximity made Ivy’s heart race, but she didn’t move. She couldn’t. Zoe had a way of making everything feel so easy, so comfortable, and Ivy didn’t want to break that moment.
For a while, they sat in silence, Ivy reading and Zoe scrolling through her phone. The silence between them wasn’t awkward; it felt… natural. It was like they didn’t need words to be in each other’s company. But Ivy felt a strange tug in her chest—a pull that made her heart beat faster with every quiet second that passed.
Finally, Zoe broke the silence. “Can I ask you something?”
Ivy glanced at her. “Sure.”
“Why do you always keep to yourself? I mean, I get it, we’re different. I talk too much, you don’t talk enough. But… I don’t know. I feel like you’re hiding something.”
Ivy’s heart skipped a beat. She hadn’t expected Zoe to notice, let alone ask. “I’m not hiding anything,” she said softly. “I just… don’t need the noise.”
Zoe studied her for a moment, then smiled warmly. “Maybe I’m the noise you need.”
Ivy’s breath caught in her throat. She opened her mouth to respond but stopped herself. She didn’t know what to say. Could she admit how she felt? Could she say it out loud?
Zoe, sensing her hesitation, leaned closer. “I’ve noticed you, Ivy. I’ve always noticed you.”
The words hung between them like a gentle promise, unspoken but undeniable. And in that moment, Ivy felt something stir in her chest, something she’d been holding back for far too long.
“I’ve noticed you too,” Ivy whispered, her voice barely audible.
Zoe smiled softly, her hand brushing against Ivy’s. It was a small touch, but it made Ivy’s heart race in ways she couldn’t explain. In that moment, nothing else mattered. They didn’t need to say anything more. The connection was already there, a thread pulling them closer, and Ivy finally allowed herself to let go.
As the night wore on, they sat together in silence, the warmth of their closeness speaking louder than any words ever could.