Quiet conversations

Sam hadn’t really planned on spending a Saturday morning at a farmer’s market, but when Liam suggested it, she couldn’t bring herself to say no. It wasn’t that she wasn’t still figuring things out with him—it’s just that, for the first time in a long while, the idea of being with him didn’t feel complicated. No grand gestures, no baggage from the past. Just... them, in a quiet corner of the world, looking for fresh vegetables and baked bread like any other couple might.
The market was bustling, but not overwhelming. Sunlight filtered through the trees, casting soft shadows on the rows of stands, each offering something new—handmade soap, freshly picked flowers, jars of honey. Sam could hear the laughter of kids running past and the low hum of vendors chatting with customers.

It felt easy, in a way, to be there with him. The kind of easy she hadn’t realized she missed.
“So, what’s your favorite part about these markets?” Liam asked, as they walked between rows of tables, his hands casually tucked in his jacket pockets.
Sam glanced at him. He looked relaxed, more so than she’d seen in a while. He wasn’t the stiff, guarded version of Liam she’d met all those weeks ago. He was softer now. Open. Like they were both slowly peeling back the layers, one quiet moment at a time.
“I don’t know. I like the simplicity of it,” Sam said. “There’s something calming about it. The way it’s all about small things—food, flowers, handmade stuff. It makes you focus on the now, you know?”
Liam nodded, his eyes lighting up with a hint of recognition. “I get that. It’s not about big moments or anything flashy. It’s just... real.”
“Exactly.”
They kept walking, but now the conversation felt easier and lighter. No tension between them, just a rhythm they could follow. They stopped at a stand selling fresh fruit, and Sam picked up a couple of ripe peaches, the soft fuzz brushing against her fingers.
Liam leaned in, his voice low as he added, “It’s nice to see you smile like that.”
Sam smiled back, trying not to feel self-conscious. “Yeah, well, it’s easier when everything isn’t a mess.”
Liam chuckled, and for a moment, it felt like everything between them was settling into place. There were no expectations, no rush, no sense that they had to be anything more than two people trying to figure each other out. And right there, Sam realized how much she’d missed just being—without the weight of everything else hanging over her.
They found a small spot to sit under the shade of a tree, sipping iced tea and nibbling on pastries. For the first time since their misunderstanding, Sam felt like she could breathe again. Not just because of the peaceful setting, but because being with Liam didn’t feel as complicated as it once had.
Then, as the conversation flowed, it turned to her—something Sam hadn’t expected, but she shouldn’t have been surprised. Liam had always been good at gently turning the focus onto the deeper stuff, the things that were harder to talk about.
“So,” he began, as they leaned back into the grass, “you said you used to go to school, right? Stanford?”
Sam froze, just for a second, before she nodded. “Yeah. I was majoring in engineering.”
Liam’s eyebrows lifted slightly, impressed. “Engineering? That’s intense.”
Sam shrugged, a little sheepishly. “I liked the challenge. And I wanted to build something real someday. Something that would last.”

“You still can,” Liam said simply, like it was a fact, not just encouragement.
Sam smiled faintly, but the memories tugged at her again, heavier now. She took a long sip of her tea, then set it down, her eyes following a couple walking past. They looked so carefree, so unburdened by everything Sam carried. 
She hadn’t talked about school in so long, not with anyone, not even James. The truth was, sometimes it still felt like she was pretending to be okay with everything she’d given up, but she couldn’t lie to him.
“My parents passed away a little over two years ago,” she started, her voice quieter than she’d expected. “I had to drop out when they died. Stanford was too expensive, and I couldn’t afford it anymore. I had to take care of James.”
Liam’s expression softened, and Sam could see the sympathy in his eyes, but it wasn’t pity. He wasn’t looking at her like she was broken. It felt like he was simply listening.
James was still young, and I didn’t want him to feel like he was alone in all of it. So, I did what I had to do. I didn’t want him to miss out on anything—especially not when he was already going through so much. The little money my parents had left went into leasing an apartment here when we moved to LA. I still kept thinking maybe I could go back to school eventually... but it wasn’t the right time. And it still isn’t.
Sam paused, her fingers tracing the rim of her cup. “I’ve saved up some money, though, enough for James to start archery lessons again. He’s been asking about it for months.”
Liam leaned back, absorbing everything Sam had said, his eyes never leaving her.
“You’re doing a lot,” he said softly. “More than most people would. Taking care of James, making sure he has the chance to follow his passion... It’s admirable, Sam.”
She shook her head. “I’m not trying to be some hero. I just... I didn’t have a choice.” She let out a small laugh. “And honestly, sometimes I wonder if I’m ever going to have the chance to finish what I started.”
“You will,” he said firmly. “I know you will.”
Sam looked at him, searching his face. There was something in the way he said it, like he meant it—like he believed in her, even when she wasn’t sure she believed in herself.
“You don’t have to say that just to make me feel better,” she said, half-smiling.
“I’m not,” he replied, his voice steady. “You’re strong. You’ve got your priorities straight, and you’re handling it better than most people would. I can see it.”
Sam let the words sink in, surprised by how comforting they were. Maybe she hadn’t given herself enough credit. Maybe, just maybe, she wasn’t as lost as she thought.
“So, what about you?” she asked, changing the subject, eager to shift the focus off herself. “What did you do before you became... well, you?”
Liam tensed a bit, then grinned. “The same thing I’m doing now. Trying to figure it out.”
They both laughed, the tension lifting just a little more. It wasn’t perfect, but it was real. And right now, it was what they needed.