The warm glow of streetlights bathed the bustling New York sidewalk as Hughie Campbell emerged from the subway station, his heart racing with anticipation. The cacophony of the city – honking horns, indistinct chatter, and the distant wail of sirens – faded into background noise as he spotted her. Robin stood near their favorite hot dog stand, her auburn hair catching the light as she turned, a smile blooming on her face when their eyes met.
"Hey, you," Robin called out, her voice a beacon of warmth in the urban chaos. Hughie's pace quickened, weaving through the crowd until he reached her. Their embrace was familiar, comfortable – the kind of hug that felt like coming home.
"Sorry I'm late," Hughie mumbled into her hair, breathing in the faint scent of lavender that always clung to her. "Got held up at the shop."
Robin pulled back, her green eyes twinkling with amusement. "Let me guess, Mrs. Hernandez and her ancient record player again?"
Hughie chuckled, marveling at how well she knew his life. "Got it in one. I swear, that thing's older than both of us combined."
They fell into step together, hands intertwined as they navigated the busy sidewalk. This was their ritual – a walk through the city, sharing the minutiae of their days, finding extraordinary moments in their ordinary lives.
"So, how was your day?" Hughie asked, his thumb absently tracing circles on the back of her hand. The small velvet box in his pocket seemed to grow heavier with each step.
Robin launched into a story about her day at the animal shelter where she volunteered, her free hand gesticulating wildly as she described a particularly ornery cat. Hughie found himself captivated, not just by the story, but by the way her eyes lit up, the small crinkles that formed at their corners when she laughed.
They paused at a crosswalk, waiting for the light to change. In that moment, with the city pulsing around them, Hughie was struck by how seamlessly Robin fit into his life. She was there in the quiet moments – lounging on his dad's worn couch, laughing at terrible B-movies. She was there in the loud ones too – cheering him on at open mic nights when he'd work up the courage to play his guitar, her voice rising above the crowd.
The walk sign flashed, and they stepped off the curb together. "Oh!" Robin exclaimed, tugging Hughie to a stop in the middle of the crosswalk. "I almost forgot to tell you. I got that internship at the law firm!"
Hughie's face split into a grin. "Robin, that's amazing!" He pulled her into a hug, ignoring the grumbles of pedestrians forced to walk around them. "We should celebrate. Dinner at that little Italian place you love?"
Robin's eyes sparkled. "You read my mind, Campbell."
As they resumed walking, Hughie felt a surge of affection. This was why he loved her – her ambition, her drive. Robin knew what she wanted from life and went after it with a determination that both inspired and slightly intimidated Hughie. She made him want to be better, to reach for more than just contentment.
The restaurant was a tiny hole-in-the-wall, its interior warm and inviting. They slid into a booth, knees touching under the small table. As Robin perused the menu (despite knowing it by heart), Hughie found himself staring, trying to commit every detail to memory – the way her brow furrowed slightly in concentration, the small scar on her chin from a childhood accident, the freckles dusted across her nose.
"Earth to Hughie," Robin's voice broke through his reverie, an amused smile playing on her lips. "You okay there? You looked like you were a million miles away."
Hughie blinked, feeling a blush creep up his neck. "Sorry, I just... I love you, you know that?"
The words weren't new – they'd said them countless times before – but something in Hughie's tone made Robin pause. She reached across the table, taking his hand in hers. "I love you too, Hughie. Is everything alright?"
He nodded, swallowing hard. His free hand moved to his pocket, fingers brushing against the velvet box. This was it. The moment he'd been planning for weeks. He opened his mouth, ready to ask the question that would change everything –
And then his phone rang.
The jarring ringtone shattered the moment. Hughie fumbled for his phone, ready to silence it, when he saw his dad's name on the screen. "It's my dad," he said apologetically. "Mind if I take this? He never calls this late unless it's important."
Robin nodded, concern flickering across her face. Hughie answered, his dad's worried voice filling his ear. As he listened, his expression shifted from confusion to alarm.
"Dad, slow down. What do you mean you're at the hospital?" Hughie's voice rose, drawing concerned glances from nearby diners. Robin reached out, placing a comforting hand on his arm.
The call ended, and Hughie looked at Robin, his face pale. "My dad... he had some kind of dizzy spell at work. They took him to the ER to run tests. I... I should go."
Robin was already gathering her things. "Of course. I'll come with you."
As they rushed out of the restaurant, hailing a cab to the hospital, the velvet box sat forgotten in Hughie's pocket. The perfect moment had slipped away, but as Robin's hand found his in the back of the cab, squeezing gently, Hughie knew it didn't matter. They had time. There would be other moments, other nights.
Little did he know that time was a luxury he didn't have. As the cab wove through the city streets towards the hospital, the countdown to tragedy had already begun. The ordinary life Hughie cherished was about to be shattered, and the love he shared with Robin would soon become a bittersweet memory – a reminder of everything he was about to lose.