Alex stood at the edge of the sidewalk, his gaze fixed on a group of women emerging from a nearby eatery.
Their animated chatter and easy camaraderie painted a picture of close friendship. But Alex's attention was riveted to the woman at the center—a blue-haired lady whose presence seemed to momentarily halt time.
Her hair, a cascade of cerulean waves, shimmered under the streetlights. Her laughter, melodic and familiar, stirred something deep within Alex.
Memories, long buried, surged forth: a younger version of her, the laughter in her voice, her smile. The weight of those recollections pressed heavily on him.
His heart pounded, a rhythm he hadn't felt in years. Emotions he had meticulously suppressed threatened to overwhelm him.
"Lauren," he whispered, the name escaping his lips like a prayer.
