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The night was quiet, the house bathed in a comforting darkness that had usually kept me calm. It had been a long day that I spent celebrating Anne's baby shower, finally left to my own devices in my childhood bedroom, and surrounded by familiarity. I had just changed into my pajamas and crawled into bed when I heard a soft knock on the door. My heart sank, for I already suspected who it was. Before I could answer, the door creaked open to let Noah slip inside, his presence like a shadow against the dim light from the hallway. "Noah," I whispered, my voice tight with frustration. "What are you doing here?" He closed the door behind him softly, his eyes locking with mine; the intensity in them quickened my pulse. "I needed to talk to you," he said, his voice low and urgent. I wrapped my a