The two walked side by side, their strides unconsciously falling into a rhythm, a quiet synchronicity born not of planning but presence. Around them, life pulsed with vibrant energy, the chatter of vendors, the rustling of leaves in the breeze, and most distinctly, the echoing laughter of children dancing through the square.
Aldrich tilted his head toward Fiona, a reflective glint in his gaze. "You know... the last time I remember laughing like that, it was when I was in a coma."
