Espresso in The Rain

Noah stood in front of his mother's penthouse, his heart pounding harder than it ever had before.

It wasn't fear of her rejecting him—he knew she loved him, no matter what. But there was still that lingering tension, the weight of expectations pressing down on him.

He clenched his fists.

No more running.

Taking a deep breath, he knocked.

The door opened almost immediately. His mother, elegant as ever in a tailored silk blouse and pencil skirt, arched a perfectly shaped brow.

"Noah," she said, surprised. "You didn't tell me you were coming."

"I know," he said, forcing a small smile. "Can we talk?"

She studied him for a moment, then stepped aside. "Of course."

The penthouse was as immaculate as always, the city skyline stretching endlessly beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows. Everything about this place was a reminder of the life his mother had built for him—a life she expected him to uphold.

She motioned for him to sit, but he remained standing.

"I need to say something," he began. "And I need you to listen, not interrupt."

His mother raised a brow but gestured for him to continue.

Noah exhaled.

"I love you, Mom. I always will. But for my entire life, I've been following a path you laid out for me—engineering, success, a stable future. I understand why. You built this life for me from nothing, and I appreciate it."

She remained silent, her expression unreadable.

Noah pressed on.

"But I'm not you. And I don't want to live my life according to someone else's expectations."

A flicker of emotion crossed her face. "Noah, I—"

"I'm not done," he interrupted gently.

Her lips pressed into a thin line, but she nodded.

Noah took a steadying breath.

"I'm going to finish my degree. But after that, I want to decide my own future. And I want you to accept that." He hesitated, then added, "And I want you to accept Elias, too."

At that, her expression shifted—subtle, but noticeable.

She was quiet for a long moment before finally speaking.

"Noah…" She sighed, rubbing her temple. "It's never been about who you love. It's about where you're going. Can you blame me for wanting you to have a stable future?"

Noah softened. "I know. And I want a future where I'm happy."

His mother exhaled, studying him carefully. Then, to his surprise, she smiled.

"Then you better make sure he's worth it."

Noah's eyes widened. "Wait—you're okay with this?"

She rolled her eyes. "I might be stubborn, Noah, but I know when to let go." Her gaze turned gentle. "If this is what makes you happy… then I won't stand in your way."

Relief crashed over him.

For the first time in a long time, Noah felt free.

And he knew exactly where he wanted to be.

With Elias.