†BANDAGE†

As she stood there, her eyes closed, letting go of the tension, her shoulders relaxed, and her chest expanded with a deep breath. Her walking stick slowly slipped from her grasp, leaning against the door with a soft thud.

She carefully wrapped her arms around herself, the softness of her undershirt a gentle caress. Her mind replaying the scene. Samuel's grin and Ryan's intense look.

Her lips curled into a smile. "I handled that well," she thought with satisfaction settling within her.

With a contented sigh, she picked up her walking stick again and pushed herself away from the door, her eyes opening to focus on the bedroom space. The soft glow of the bedroom light illuminated the room's soothing colors.

Aria's gaze landed on the clothes she had laid out on the bed, the neat piles of folded garments and the outfit she had chosen for the evening still waiting. She moved towards the bed, her steps quiet on the plush carpet.