When Rose woke up, she had a brief chit-chat with her brother, Daniel, enjoying the rare moment of quiet between them. However, their conversation was soon interrupted by a knock on the door. Rose got up to answer it and was pleasantly surprised to see Stella standing there. A wide smile spread across Rose's face as she welcomed her in, and the three of them settled into an easy, laughter-filled conversation.
The atmosphere was light and cheerful as they joked and shared stories, relishing the company of one another. But the mood suddenly shifted when Stella broke an unexpected piece of news—she was leaving town.
Both Rose and Daniel stared at her in shock, the weight of her words sinking in. Daniel, especially, seemed visibly unsettled by the idea of Stella leaving.
"Why?" Rose asked, concern etched into her features. "Where are you going?"
Stella hesitated for a moment before answering. "I have work to do," she said vaguely.
Rose furrowed her brows. "What kind of work? I don't think I've ever asked what you do for a living."
Stella smirked, avoiding direct eye contact. "It's just some biker stuff out of town," she said, waving her hand dismissively. "I don't stay in one place for too long. I'm a woman of adventure, after all."
Rose frowned at the answer, feeling like Stella was withholding something, but she chose not to push. Instead, she sighed and leaned back. "I just wish you could stay longer."
"I wish that too," Stella admitted. "But this is how I live. When I take breaks, I come back home, but most of the time, I'm traveling."
Daniel, who had been unusually quiet, clenched his jaw. His face remained neutral, but deep down, he felt a growing sadness at the thought of her departure. He had grown attached to Stella—more than he cared to admit. She had kept him company in Rose's absence, and now, she was leaving just as suddenly as she had appeared in their lives.
After some more conversation, Stella finally stood up. "I should get going," she said, stretching.
Rose sighed but nodded, standing to give Stella a tight hug. "Take care of yourself, alright?"
"I will," Stella assured her before placing a quick peck on Rose's cheek. "Don't go missing me too much."
Rose chuckled softly but then noticed Daniel getting up as well. "I'll escort you out," he said, his voice firm yet subdued.
Recognizing that this was a moment for the two of them, Rose excused herself and went back to her room, giving them their space.
Outside the house, Daniel and Stella stood in silence for a few seconds before Daniel finally spoke. "I don't like this," he admitted. "You just got here, and now you're leaving already."
Stella smiled, tilting her head at him. "I know. I feel the same way, but my job is important. I was actually going to leave without saying anything, but I felt guilty not telling you both."
Daniel's eyes darkened slightly. "How long will you be gone?"
Stella sighed. "I don't know."
Daniel inhaled sharply, suppressing the emotions that threatened to surface. "Over the past weeks, I've gotten used to having you around. It's been nice. You made things… less boring," he admitted.
Stella's expression softened as she stepped closer. "I feel the same. Meeting Rose that day at the café led me to you both, and I don't regret it."
Daniel wanted to say more, but the words felt stuck in his throat. He was never one to express himself easily. Instead, he simply nodded, swallowing back his emotions.
Stella took another step forward and, with a small smile, leaned in and placed a soft peck on his cheek. "Goodbye, Daniel," she whispered.
Without another word, she turned, hopped onto her bike, revved the engine, and drove off into the night.
Daniel remained standing there, watching until her taillights disappeared into the distance, an unfamiliar ache settling in his chest.