After skating and laughing until their legs ached, both Lilith and Ray were starving.
They found a small, cozy café nearby, a warm little place tucked between snowy trees, with windows fogged from the heat inside and the scent of fresh bread and cinnamon drifting out into the cold air.
Ray immediately lit up when they stepped inside. "This place smells like heaven."
Lilith smiled as they took a seat by the window. She ordered something warm—eggs, toast, a little fruit and Ray, of course, added pancakes, extra syrup, and hot chocolate topped with whipped cream.
As they ate, the warmth from the café settled into their bones. Ray kept talking, making jokes, stealing a bite of her toast, and pretending to be offended when she didn't offer syrup in return. His eyes sparkled every time she laughed. He looked… happy.
But as the plates emptied and the morning sun climbed higher in the sky, something shifted in his face.
