The night sky was vast and cloudless, a blanket of stars twinkling above as we made our way back from the square.
The energy from the crowd, the laughter, the warmth of the lanterns—it all felt like a distant echo now. As we walked in silence, I couldn't shake the feeling of discontent that had settled in my chest.
Nathaniel had been polite after I pulled away from his kiss, but the tension between us was palpable, and I found myself regretting agreeing to go out with him in the first place.
The cobblestone streets were quiet now, the festivities behind us, and I was hyper-aware of the sound of my own footsteps.
Nathaniel walked a few paces ahead, his hands shoved into his pockets, head down. He hadn't said much since the moment between us back at the square, and I was grateful for the silence. I needed time to think.
