Episode 3
*(10 Years Earlier – Ash at 17)*
**[Text Messages – Ash & His Mom]**
Ellena carter (ML's mother)
*Come home, sweetheart. We’ll talk.*
Ash carter (ML)
*I DON’T WANT TO TALK!*
Ellena carter (ML's mother)
Please. Let me fix this.*
(Ash never replied. Two hours later—a call from the hospital.)*
**[Present]**
*(Ash jolts awake, sweat-drenched, the echo of screeching tires in his ears. He stumbles to the bathroom, splashes water on his face. In the mirror, his mother’s eyes stare back. He texts Ethan.)*
Ash carter (ML)
*I Had the dream again.*
Ethan (ML's best friend)
*The accident?*
Ash carter (ML)
*I was the one who should’ve died.*
.*(Daniel’s Corporate Office – Next Morning)*
Daniel carter (ML's father)
(sliding a contract across the desk)* *Sign this. Today.*
Ash carter (ML)
*(shoves it back)* *I’m not you.*
Daniel carter (ML's father)
*(slams fist on desk)* *SHE WOULDN’T WANT THIS!*
(Silence. Both men breathing hard. Daniel’s voice cracks.)*
Daniel carter (ML's father)
*Every day I sit in this office… wishing I’d died instead of her.
Daniel carter (ML's father)
But you—* *(points at Ash)* *You get to throw your life away?*
*(Ash leaves without a word, the unsigned contract fluttering to the floor.)*
(Wild Pages – A Stormy Afternoon)*
*(Rain drums against the windows.)
Lia is alone in the shop, reorganizing the poetry section.
Lia (FL)
The bell chimes. She turns—it’s **him**, the quiet stranger with storm-gray eyes, soaked from the rain.
Ash carter (ML)
He is standing near the door, ( hesitating.)*
Lia (FL)
*(gentle)* You’ll catch a cold.
Ash carter (ML)
*(Ash blinks, startled she spoke to him. Water drips from his hair. He doesn’t move.)*
Lia (FL)
*(smiling)* I have towels in the back.
( he steps forward. She fetches a towel, hands it to him. Their fingers brush. **Neither pulls away.**)*
Ash carter (ML)
*(quiet)* Thanks.
Lia (FL)
You’re coming here a lot.
Ash carter (ML)
*(stiffens)* …Yeah.
*(The rain fills the silence. Lia tilts her head, studying him. He’s taller up close. Younger than she thought. Sad in a way that makes her chest ache.)*
Lia (FL)
Do you like the rain?
Ash carter (ML)
*(surprised by the question)* I… hate it.
Lia (FL)
*(laughs softly)* Me too.
Ash carter (ML)
*(He stares at her. No one laughs around him. Not anymore.)*
Lia (FL)
*(leans against the shelf)* When I was little, the orphanage roof leaked. All My books got ruined.
Ash carter (ML)
(Ash’s throat tightens. **She’s an orphan.** Like he’s been, in every way that matters, since his mom died.)*
Ash carter (ML)
*(roughly)* I’m sorry.
Lia (FL)
*(shrugs)* I have new books now.
*(A pause. Then Ash does something reckless—he points to the shelf behind her.)*
Ash carter (ML)
That one’s good.
Lia (FL)
(turns)* *“The History of Love”*?
Ash carter (ML)
Yeah. It’s about… people who don’t know how to say things.
Lia (FL)
*(softly)* Sounds perfect.
*(They stand there, the rain is slowing outside. **Two strangers. Two silent hearts. One beginning.**)*
Lia (FL)
(In phone)
I talked to the broody guy.
Mira (FL's best friend)
!!! DETAILS.
Lia (FL)
He hates rain. Likes sad books. Has a voice like gravel and honey.
Mira (FL's best friend)
Oh, you’re DONE for.
Lia (FL)
(grinning at her phone)* Shut up.
*(Across town, Ash sits on his bedroom floor, replaying the conversation in his head. He texts Ethan.)*
Ash carter (ML)
She talked to me.
Ethan (ML's best friend)
Holy shit. About what?
Ash carter (ML)
Books. Rain.
Ethan (ML's best friend)
…That’s it?
Ash carter (ML)
*(smiling faintly)* Yeah.
*(It was everything.)*
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