As the sun began to set, casting long, golden shadows across the hardwood floors, they finally collapsed onto the only piece of furniture that was fully assembled: a slightly lumpy navy blue sofa.

"I’m just saying," Maya shouted from the kitchen, her voice echoing off the bare walls, "if you put your sneakers in the communal closet, they have to be in a bin. I’ve seen your gym bag, Leo. It’s a biohazard."

Leo looked around at the messy, half-finished home. It wasn't perfect, and they would undoubtedly drive each other crazy within a week, but for the first time in years, the silence of a new city didn't feel lonely.