Ceased.
And something shifted in the atmosphere.
A presence.
A hesitation.
Across the walkway, a man stood motionless.
He had been walking rapidly just seconds earlier, attired impeccably in a tailored business suit, his buffed shoes reflecting the final glimmers of sunset. A leather briefcase dangled from his hand—an emblem of order, of stability, of a life governed by routine and assurance.
But now, all of that had fractured.
Because he had observed her.
His eyes expanded.
His breath hitched.
And for a heartbeat, the environment around him seemed to vanish.
It couldn’t be.
Not here.
Not in this state.
His hold on the briefcase slackened.
It tumbled from his grasp.
The thud of it striking the earth resonated more loudly than it should have in the park’s tranquility.
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