When Marissa aged out of the foster system, she carried only what fit in a bag-and the memory of Gabriel, the quiet, steady guardian who made her feel safe when nothing else did. Years later, she returns to the city for a new job at a nonprofit, determined to start fresh and leave the past behind.

She never expected to find Gabriel again. Especially not volunteering at the very same center. Time has changed them both, but the unspoken bond still lingers, pulling them together with every shared glance and every moment too heavy for words.

Gabriel has spent years trying to forget the girl who once brought light to his home and grief to his heart when she walked away. Now that she's back, grown and driven, he finds himself torn between keeping the lines professional... and admitting he never stopped caring.

As they work side by side with the youth they once were, old feelings resurface-and so do the fears. Trusting each other again means facing what was left unsaid, and risking the fragile connection they've only just rekindled.

Can two people who walked away once finally find the courage to stay?

Or will silence be the only thing they carry forward once more?