Reaching You, My Reneo

(1)

The soft hum of the city was a backdrop to Thora's thoughts as she leaned against the cool metal railing of her balcony. The sun had dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and violet. She sighed, wrapping her arms around her knees, a familiar ache settling in her chest. It was the ache that came with unrequited love—a feeling that had become all too comfortable.

Reneo, with his tousled dark hair and those deep-set brown eyes, had become the sun in her universe. He was everything she admired: talented, charming, and perpetually surrounded by friends. Yet, to him, she was just another face in the crowd, an invisible ghost lurking in the shadows. Thora could never quite understand why she had fallen so hard for him. Maybe it was the way he smiled, brightening the dullest of days. Or perhaps it was the kindness he showed even to strangers, a trait she cherished deeply.

Theirs was a peculiar kind of dance; she would watch him from afar, admiring him while he went through life, blissfully unaware of her existence. Her friends would tease her about it, rolling their eyes as she waxed poetic about the perfect man who didn’t even know she was alive. “Thora, you need to get out there! Meet someone who can appreciate you,” they would chime. But how could she? How could she ever approach someone like Reneo when her heart raced at the mere sight of him?

Tonight, there was a party across the street at the lively café where Reneo often hung out with his friends. The music pulsed through the air, a rhythmic invitation that made her restless. Thora bit her lip, contemplating. Maybe tonight would be different. Maybe she could muster the courage to step into that crowded room and talk to him.

She glanced at her reflection in the glass door, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "You can do this," she whispered to herself, her heart pounding. The thought of Reneo's smile ignited a flicker of determination.

Taking a deep breath, Thora pulled on her favorite dress—one that hugged her curves just right, in a shade of deep blue that accentuated her hazel eyes. After one last look in the mirror, she grabbed her bag and headed out the door, each step echoing her uncertainty.

The café was buzzing with energy as she entered. Laughter and chatter filled the air, a mix of conversations blending into a euphoric melody. Thora scanned the room, her heart racing as her eyes finally landed on him. Reneo stood at the bar, a drink in hand, surrounded by friends. The way he laughed, his head thrown back in genuine joy, made her heart flutter. It was intoxicating, and it made her feel even smaller.