It is tempting to place the strongest shots next to one another at the start of an edit. Yet the feeling of a story often lives in the details between those shots.
Let the transition be felt
A glance reaching its end, a movement leaving the frame or sound arriving early from the next scene can make a cut feel more natural.
Room to breathe
Not every gap needs to be filled. A brief silence or a shot that holds still gives the viewer room to connect with what they see.