Across from her sat Ali, looking at a book. They had known each other since childhood, but recently, things had changed. The comfortable silence had become a heavy stillness.

The tea garden at the edge of town was quiet, except for the clicking of backgammon tiles and the river's rush. Leyla sat by the window, holding a glass of dark tea. She waited, pretending to watch the rain.

In that blink, Ali saw what she hadn't said. He saw the thoughts, glances, and yearning that mirrored his own. The world narrowed to just the two of them. Ali set his book down. The pretense of friendship was gone. "Leyla," he said quietly. Leyla smiled. She knew the bridge had been crossed.