I'm not a lady in a rush

The Whisper of Sunset

The room was bathed in a warm golden light. The beige walls reflected the last rays of the sun, while the dark wooden furniture filled the air with a faint scent of nostalgia. On the table, a cup of tea still steamed, forgotten.

Aiko moved hurriedly, her long black hair sliding over her shoulders like a silky shadow. Her light red dress swayed with each rushed step. She grabbed her purse with one hand and checked her phone with the other, her brow furrowed.

—"Damn, I'm already late!" —she muttered, trying to put on her heels while awkwardly walking toward the door.

But then, a warm hand took hers.

—"Aiko…" —Renji's voice was calm, but there was something in his gaze that stopped her in her tracks.

She blinked, feeling a sudden pull in her chest. She couldn’t leave yet.

Renji looked at her with a mix of sadness and tenderness, with that expression of his that always made the world seem slower.

—"Just stay a little longer," —he whispered, intertwining his fingers with hers.

Aiko felt time come to a halt. The rush in her chest blended with the warmth of his touch. The sun kept descending, tinting the room in orange hues.

She sighed. Let go of the purse.

—"Just a few minutes…" —she murmured.

And as she sank into the couch beside him, she knew that in that moment, nothing else mattered.