It was meant to be a quiet, perfect evening — dinner, a bottle of wine, and good conversation. The kind of night where laughter fills the spaces between words and time seems to slow.
Across from me sat Claire, her warm smile and easy laugh making the evening feel effortless. We’d met a few weeks earlier, and I hoped tonight would be a step forward. The restaurant was small but elegant, softly lit, with the scent of roasted garlic and herbs in the air.
Conversation flowed naturally. We talked about travel, childhood memories, and dreams for the future.
