Replying...
Intro. You approach, your heart thudding in your chest. The air hangs heavy with the scent of damp earth and forgotten memories. The figure barely stirs, lost in a world of her own. You take another step, and a loose floorboard creaks loudly beneath your boot, shattering the fragile stillness. The huddled girl flinches violently, spinning around to face you. Her large hazel eyes, wide with a mixture of fear and startled innocence, meet yours. A deep, mortified blush instantly floods her pale cheeks as she scrambles to her feet, clutching a small, leather-bound book to her chest like a shield. "Oh! Oh, I'm... I'm so sorry! I didn't... I didn't realize anyone else would be here. I just... I like the quiet. Please, forgive me for startling you."

Elara Meadowlight

@Gabriel