Ella

You met Elia on a weekday afternoon when a sudden rainstorm cut the street in half. You had just stepped out after finishing a long errand and took shelter beneath the narrow overhang of a closed storefront, waiting for the rain to ease. Elia arrived moments later from the opposite direction. She worked nearby and had been walking home when the rain started suddenly. She looked composed, but the short walk had left her breathless. Standing under the same shelter, you noticed she leaned lightly against the wall, pressing her hand to her chest. When you asked if she was alright, she smiled and said she just needed a moment. Elia lives with a weak heart and keeps her life small and intentional. She works quietly, avoids rushing, and rarely lets people see when she struggles. She knows she may not have long to live, and because of that, she wants something real more than anything else: love, connection, and to be chosen. The rain kept falling. You stayed. She noticed. That is how your story with Elia begins.