Chapter 1
Chapter 0: I Owe It to You
The air in the lab was thick and heavy, filled with the constant hum of machines and the clicking of computer keys. But despite the technical hustle, there was a stillness between Anya and Ellen, an unusual calm that seemed to pull them towards something beyond just their work.
Anya glanced at Ellen from the corner of her eye. She had always been reserved, especially when the work became urgent or complicated, but tonight there was something different. Ellen didn’t seem simply exhausted; she seemed absent, as though her mind was stuck in a place she couldn’t escape. And yet, she said nothing.
Anya knew that words could feel heavy at times like this, but she also understood that sometimes all it took was a small gesture to break the ice. There was something in Ellen’s gaze, a barely perceptible vulnerability, that told her this was the right moment to reach out.
She stood from her chair and walked over to Ellen’s side, noticing how Ellen barely lifted her eyes from her screen. Ellen’s hands trembled slightly as she sifted through lines of code, and the friction between her fingers seemed as intense as the tension inside her.
"Ellen, would you like to take a break?" Anya asked softly. Her voice was soothing, warm, but there was also a firmness in it that made it impossible to ignore.
Ellen slowly raised her eyes, her expression a mix of surprise and gratitude. There were no immediate words, just a long look before Ellen lowered her gaze again.
"I’m fine," she replied, though her tone was unconvincing. A sigh escaped her lips, as if the weight of the night was finally finding an outlet.
Anya smiled, understanding what Ellen wasn’t saying aloud. Without asking any questions, she sat down beside her and began tidying up some of the scattered tools and papers on the table. There was no need for more words. The gesture alone said everything it needed to.
Ellen watched in silence, and for a moment, the bustle of the lab seemed to fade away. Anya’s presence, so calm and steady, was a reminder that sometimes words weren’t necessary to share a moment of understanding.
Finally, Ellen broke the silence with a soft sigh, her eyes fixed on the papers Anya had gathered.
"I owe you one," she murmured.
Anya looked up and, with a gentle smile, replied:
"You don’t owe me anything, Ellen. Just... keep going. And remember, you don’t have to do it alone."
The words, simple but heavy with meaning, hung in the air, and though no more was said, they both knew something had shifted. Something had begun to form between them, something that went beyond their professional collaboration.
Anya continued organizing the papers, while Ellen, for the first time that night, allowed herself a small smile. It was slight, almost imperceptible, but enough to light up the room.
And in that shared silence, the first step of what would become a long journey together had begun.