The soft light streaming through the window warmed Erica's skin, pulling her gently from sleep. She blinked, adjusting to the glow, and became aware of the comforting weight of Sam's arm draped around her waist. His steady breath tickled the top of her head, and she smiled, nestled against his chest.

"Good morning, sleepyhead," Sam murmured, his voice rich and familiar.

Erica looked up, her heart skipping at the warmth in his eyes. "Morning," she whispered, her voice still heavy with sleep.

Sam... here? In my space? Is this real?

The dream felt so vivid, so achingly possible, that she almost believed it. But the world shifted, and she woke for real this time, alone in her room in Tuguegarao. Her chest tightened as she stared at the plain ceiling. The cozy glow of the dream faded, replaced by the faint gray light of early morning.

She exhaled shakily, pressing a hand to her chest as if to steady the ache there. Why does it feel so real? And why does it hurt so much to wake up?

The rest of the morning passed in a haze. She moved through the routine almost mechanically, her mind preoccupied with the dream. While the eggs sizzled in the pan, she caught herself staring at the stove, imagining Sam standing behind her, his arms slipping around her waist. She shook her head, trying to clear the vision. Why am I even thinking about this?

A familiar voice snapped her back to reality. "Hey, Earth to Erica!"

Sam stood in the doorway, his arms crossed, grinning at her. "You gonna let that burn, or do I have to step in?"

"Oh!" Erica hurried to turn off the burner, her cheeks flushing. "Sorry, I got distracted."

He shook his head, laughing softly as he joined her in the kitchen. "Distracted, huh? You've been like this all week. What's going on in that head of yours?"

"It's nothing," she said quickly, brushing past him to set the table.

Sam leaned against the counter, watching her with a curious expression. "You sure? Because 'nothing' doesn't usually make people stare off into space like that."

Her cheeks grew warmer. "It's just... I've been thinking, that's all."

"About?"

"Just stuff," she mumbled, avoiding his gaze.

He smirked, clearly unconvinced, but let it drop. They sat down to eat, the clinking of cutlery filling the quiet between them. Erica tried to focus on the food, but her mind kept wandering. She glanced at Sam, imagining him at a dining table in her city apartment, his laughter filling the space. Her chest tightened again.

Why does this feel so natural? Like it's something I could actually want?

After breakfast, Sam began clearing the dishes. Erica followed him to the sink, leaning against the counter as he worked. She watched him in silence, unable to shake the image of him in her dream - standing in her city kitchen, a little boy tugging at his sleeve. The thought sent a strange mix of warmth and panic through her.

Where is this even coming from? A family? With Sam?

"You're staring," Sam said, not looking up from the sink. His tone was amused, but there was a question in it.

Erica blinked, startled. "What? No, I'm not!"

He turned to her, his eyebrow raised. "You've been zoning out all morning, and now you're staring at me like I've got two heads. What's going on?"

"I... I'm fine," she stammered, retreating quickly. "I just need a minute."

Back in her room, she leaned against the door, her heart pounding. She pressed her hands to her cheeks, feeling the heat there. Why am I thinking about this? About him, about... us?

She sat on the bed, hugging her knees as her mind replayed the dream in vivid detail. She could still feel the quiet intimacy of waking up beside him, the way it felt so right, so easy. Her thoughts raced. I've never imagined a future with anyone before, not like this. But with Sam... it's different. It feels possible.

By late afternoon, Erica felt restless. She and Sam decided to walk along the riverbank, the fresh air helping to clear her thoughts. They strolled in comfortable silence, the water glistening in the sunlight. But Erica's mind was far from quiet. She glanced at Sam, his steady presence beside her grounding her, and she felt a surge of courage.

"Sam," she began hesitantly, her voice soft.

He looked at her, his expression open and curious. "Yeah?"

"Do you ever think about... the future?"

He raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by the question. "The future?" He considered it for a moment, his gaze drifting to the river. "I guess I do, sometimes. I think about the farm, about Aunt Nena, about maybe... finding someone to share life with someday." He glanced at her, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Why?"

She hesitated, her heart pounding. "I don't know. I guess... I've been thinking about it more lately. About what comes next."

Sam's smile softened, and his eyes searched hers. "What do you see, when you think about it?"

Erica bit her lip, unsure how much to say. "I don't know," she admitted finally. "But... it's different now. For the first time, I feel like I could... settle down somewhere. Like maybe that's what I want."

Sam's gaze lingered on her, and she thought she saw something flicker in his eyes - hope, maybe, or understanding. "It's funny," he said after a pause. "I never thought I'd want more than just this place. But lately, I've been wondering... what if there's more out there for me? Someone to share it all with."

Her breath caught. Is he saying what I think he's saying?

They found a spot to sit, the stars beginning to peek out overhead. Erica leaned closer, their shoulders brushing. The silence between them felt charged, full of unspoken possibilities.

"Sam," she said softly, her voice almost trembling.

"Yeah?"

She turned to him, her heart racing. "I think... maybe we could figure it out. Together."

Sam looked at her, his expression unreadable at first, but then his lips curved into a warm, genuine smile. He reached for her hand, threading his fingers through hers. "I'd like that," he said simply.

Under the starlit sky, Erica felt a strange and beautiful certainty settle in her chest. For the first time, she could see a future - not just any future, but one with Sam. And it felt like coming home.

*****

Weeks later...

The winds howled through Tuguegarao, shaking the old wooden house with each fierce gust. Erica stood by the window, staring out at the ominous gray sky. The clouds seemed to stretch endlessly, churning as if reflecting her own internal turmoil. Rain lashed against the glass in heavy sheets, each drop adding to the rising unease in her chest.

Thunder rumbled in the distance, low and menacing. She flinched at the sound, her fingers curling into fists. This storm... it's like it's clawing at everything, tearing everything apart.

"Erica, step away from the window," Sam's voice came from the kitchen, steady but tinged with concern.

She turned to look at him. He was busy rummaging through drawers, pulling out candles, batteries, and anything else they might need if the storm knocked out the power. The sight of him, calm and focused, was a stark contrast to the chaos raging inside her.

"Sam..." she said softly, her voice almost drowned out by the wind. "Do you think we'll be okay?"

He stopped what he was doing and glanced at her. His brow furrowed slightly, but his voice was sure. "We'll be fine. This isn't the first storm I've been through, and it won't be the last. We've got everything we need, Erica. Trust me."

She nodded, but her chest felt tight. The storm outside seemed to mirror her thoughts. What if he's wrong? What if this is too much?

Sam walked over and gently touched her shoulder, his hand warm and grounding. "We just have to stick together, okay?"

His reassurance helped, if only a little. She forced a smile and moved to help him prepare, but her mind kept circling back to the same questions. Why did I come here? What am I really doing?

The wind howled louder, shaking the windows. Erica's thoughts spiraled. I left everything behind - my life, my father's approval - to be here. But what if I can't make this work? What if Sam doesn't want to be stuck in a storm like this with me forever?

"Hey."

Sam's voice snapped her back to reality. He was holding a lantern, his expression soft but searching. "You're a million miles away. What's going on?"

She hesitated, then shook her head. "It's nothing. Just... nerves, I guess."

Sam didn't look convinced, but he let it slide. Instead, he handed her a flashlight. "If the power goes out, we'll need this. Let's get everything ready just in case."

They worked in silence, gathering supplies, but Erica's thoughts refused to settle. The storm grew fiercer, the windows rattling in their frames. Every crack of thunder made her flinch, her nerves fraying further.

When the lights flickered and went out, plunging the house into darkness, her heart leapt into her throat.

"Got it," Sam said calmly, lighting the lantern. The soft glow filled the room, casting flickering shadows on the walls. "See? No big deal."

Erica tried to nod, but the fear in her chest was too heavy. She sank to the floor, leaning against the wall, her knees pulled up to her chest.

Sam joined her, sitting close but not crowding her. His presence was steady, comforting, but it wasn't enough to quiet the storm inside her.

"Erica," he said softly.

She turned her head toward him, her eyes wide. "I don't know if I can do this," she admitted, her voice trembling.

He didn't ask what she meant. Somehow, he already knew.

"You don't have to figure it all out tonight," he said gently. "But you're not alone in this. Whatever's going on in your head, whatever you're afraid of, you don't have to carry it by yourself. I'm here."

His words hit her like a wave, and tears welled up in her eyes. She blinked them away quickly, but her voice broke when she whispered, "I'm so scared, Sam. I don't know if I made the right choice coming here. What if I ruin everything? What if this - " She gestured between them. " - isn't enough?"

Sam's expression softened, and he reached for her hand, wrapping his fingers around hers. "Erica, life isn't about having all the answers. It's about taking the leap, even when you're scared. I know you've given up a lot to be here. I know it's not easy. But you're not ruining anything. You're just trying to figure it out, like the rest of us."

His words were a balm, but her doubts weren't so easily silenced. "What if I can't figure it out? What if I let you down?"

Sam's grip on her hand tightened. "You won't. And even if you stumble, I'm not going anywhere."

She looked at him then, really looked, and saw the truth in his eyes. He wasn't just saying what she wanted to hear. He meant it.

The storm raged on outside, but for the first time that night, Erica felt a small flicker of calm.

"Okay," she whispered. "We'll face it together."

"Always," he said, leaning his shoulder against hers.

They stayed there for hours, listening to the wind howl and the rain pound against the roof. Despite the chaos outside, the lantern's soft glow and Sam's steady presence made Erica feel safe.

*****

Days later, the storm finally passed. The winds died down, the rain eased to a gentle drizzle, and the sky began to brighten.

Sam stood by the window, watching the sun peek through the clouds. "It's over," he said, his voice quiet but full of relief.

Erica joined him, her gaze following his. The world outside looked fresh, almost new, as if the storm had washed everything clean.

"Yeah," she said softly. "It's over."

Sam turned to her, his hand brushing against hers. "See? Told you we'd make it."

She smiled, the weight in her chest lifting just a little. "I guess you were right."

He grinned. "Get used to it."

Erica laughed, a sound that felt foreign but good. She wasn't sure what the future held, but in that moment, with Sam beside her, she thought maybe - just maybe - she could face whatever came next.