Love Unspoken

Completely worn out from a day spent scrubbing dishes, Quinn fell onto her bed the moment she stepped into her bedroom. Her gaze fell upon her fingertips, raw and peeling from the day's labor.

Thoughts of Abigail's messages filled her mind, and she found herself slipping into a daydream. A knock at her door yanked her back to reality. Standing in the doorway was Juliet, her frame hunched and weary. She regarded Quinn with a look of concern. "Are you hungry, dear?" she asked.

Pushing herself up from the bed, Quinn moved towards her, surprise evident in her gesture. "Why are you still awake at this hour?"

"I was waiting for you," Juliet responded simply.

"You shouldn't have. You should get your rest," Quinn advised, concern tingeing her voice.

Juliet merely shook her head, a soft smile gracing her lips. "Sleep doesn't come easy at my age. Haven't had your dinner yet? Let me fix something for you."

Quinn as she took in Juliet's caring gaze. The thought of being cared for, being considered, felt incredibly precious. It was like finding a safe harbor for her heart, a place where she belonged, a home. Leaning on her cane for support, Juliet shuffled off, returning shortly with a comforting bowl of oatmeal

plenty more. What did you do today

paused, her memory flashing back to the long day and the images of Alexander and Getty on the television screen. A pang of sorrow rose unbidden within her as she swallowed

helping. Accepting the bowl from

witness this tender exchange. There was something different about Quinn's smile when she was with Juliet. It was genuine, full of warmth, as if her eyes were shining with happiness. Alexander watched them for a moment before retreating back up the stairs. Once she had finished her meal, Quinn, still weary, made her

she heard the sound of running water from the bathroom. The hazy silhouette of

towel, his hair

falling on his well-defined abs before she averted her eyes and moved towards the bathroom. Just as she was about to enter, a hand grabbed her arm. She turned in surprise, her

to fetch her clothes, but Alexander didn't let go. She tried to pull away, but his grip only tightened. In the next instant, he pushed