All The Men I Have Danced With Are Dead

Another chapter - Scenes from recollection.

Downtown was a dreary and damp scene that morning, and Aurora had not worn the right clothes to tackle it. Her long black silk jacket did little to protect her from the harsh January winds. But she had been running late for work - a recurring theme lately. The morning rush hour only added to her woes, with hordes of people scurrying in different directions, making it almost impossible to move freely. 

As Aurora approached the intersection of a T street, her peripheral vision caught a glimpse of a familiar silhouette in the distance. She stuttered in her tracks, her heart pounding with anticipation. With a sense of urgency, she quickened her pace, eager to confirm her suspicion. At that moment, she failed to notice the person in front of her had stopped, and she collided with them, causing both of them to stumble.

'Sorry' Aurora apologized but was met with an irritated scowl from a rather tall dark-haired woman. The woman's piercing gaze seemed to convey a clear warning: "Bump into me again and we will see what happens. 

She brushed off the awkwardness of the moment and shifted her focus to the reason for the collision. She looked up, scanning the crowded street for the familiar face she thought she saw earlier. Her eyes darted back and forth, searching through the throngs of people pushing and shoving past her. The cold wind nipped at her cheeks, causing her eyes to water and her vision to blur.

Aurora saw what she was looking for about ten feet in front of her, obstructed by a handful of moving bodies.

As she picked up her pace, Aurora deftly maneuvered her way through the crowds, her hands gently nudging past people with an apologetic "excuse me." Each time, she was met with the same expression of early-morning annoyance

When she was finally close enough, she called out, "Peter!"

As she called out his name again, Aurora noticed a subtle tension in Peter's body, but he still didn't turn around. Doubts crept into her mind - maybe it wasn't him after all? Ignoring the disapproving looks from two young Asian women to her left, she tried once more, raising her voice a little louder to ensure he could hear her.

She got about two feet away from him before trying again " Peter!?"

He stopped walking, retracted his shoulders, and turned towards her with a look of confusion on his face. But it was only a fleeting moment before recognition dawned on him.

"Aurora?!" he said maybe a little too loudly.

Aurora couldn't help but smile at the sight of him, his face lighting up with joy as he gathered her in his arms. His embrace was tight, and she could feel the strong beat of his heart beneath the layers of his clothes. As they hugged, she caught a whiff of his scent - a mixture of fresh detergent and rich cocoa butter.

>>>>

Still amidst the sea of people hustling and bustling during rush hour, Peter's voice rang out, breaking through the cacophony of honking cars and hurried footsteps. 'Where are you headed?' he asked, his gaze fixed on Aurora. Taking a brief moment to appreciate his deep green eyes before replying, 'I'm heading to work.' Aurora said

Work! She remembered, thinking that she would at the very least receive a reprimand at this rate. But then Peter said: " Me too, I will walk with you". And Aurora thought it was worth the risk.

They walked in silence for the first couple minutes - Aurora leading the direction by being a tad bit in front of him. The air was thick with moisture as a light drizzle began to fall from the ominously grey sky above. Neither cared that they were getting a little wet.

"Did you get taller?" Peter said suddenly, his eyes scanning Aurora from head to toe. He flashed her a warm smile, revealing his perfectly white teeth, while his low fade hair was catching a particular lighting that revealed gray specks.