𝐓𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄 ⊳ 𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫

2

The sun had dipped below the horizon, casting the last of its warm glow upon the cobblestone streets as you and I.N made your way home together. Each step brought with it a gentle whisper from the evening breeze, carrying the scent of distant rain and the promise of a cooler night. The Togruta's vivid, alien visage remained etched in your mind's eye, a silent companion that walked alongside you, refusing to fade away. Her lekku, those graceful head-tails that framed her face, fluttered in your thoughts like ghosts of memories not quite realized.

Your feet moved almost of their own accord, navigating the familiar path while your consciousness remained adrift in a sea of contemplation. The clack of I.N's boots on the pavement was a metronome to the symphony of the city, a steady rhythm that grounded you to the physical world, yet failed to shake the image of her haunting gaze.

As the two of you approached the heavy, wooden door that guarded the sanctuary of your abode, your legs felt like they were made of lead. I.N, noticing your distraction, took the initiative to push open the door, revealing the dimly lit corridor that led to your apartment. He guided you with gentle yet firm hands, as if he feared that you might otherwise drift away into the ether of your thoughts.

The apartment itself was a bastion of comfort, a place where the outside world was kept at bay with the warm embrace of familiar scents and the gentle hum of appliances. The living room, adorned with the soft glow of a few strategically placed lamps, beckoned with the welcoming embrace of the sofa.

With a tender touch, I.N coaxed you into the plush cushions, your body sinking into the familiar contours. The fabric was slightly worn from years of use, yet it provided a comfort that was as reassuring as the warmth of a mother's hug. You sat there, lost in the labyrinth of your thoughts, until his gentle shaking brought you back to reality.

You blinked, the Togruta's face slowly dissipating like the last vapor trails of a forgotten dream. His eyes, a rich tapestry of muddy browns, searched yours for any sign of distress. They were pools of concern, filled with the unspoken questions that hung in the air between you.

"Sorry," you managed to murmur, your voice a mere wisp of its usual self. I.N offered no words of reprimand, no inquiry into your distraction. Instead, he merely nodded, understanding in his silence.

Leaning down, he placed a kiss upon your forehead, the warmth of his touch a stark contrast to the coldness of your thoughts. It was a gesture filled with a quiet reassurance, a silent promise to be there for you when you were ready to unravel the mysteries that had woven themselves into the fabric of your mind.

He straightened, his eyes never leaving yours, and whispered a farewell. "I'll be back tomorrow," he said, his voice a soothing balm to your frazzled soul. "You better get some sleep."

With those final words, he turned and disappeared into the hallway, the sound of the door clicking shut echoing through the apartment like the end of a chapter. The silence that enveloped you was a stark reminder of your solitude, yet it was a solitude that held a strange comfort as well. You were alone, but you weren't lonely. The Togruta's presence still lingered, a phantom in the shadows of your thoughts, waiting for you to give it the attention it craved.

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Your eyelids felt like leaden weights, unrelenting in their refusal to grant you even the slightest reprieve from the endless vigil of the night. The once comfortable embrace of your bed had transformed into a torturous chamber of restlessness, each crevice and fiber of the mattress a silent testament to the hours of unbridled wakefulness that had passed. The room was enveloped in a dense, oppressive silence, pierced only by the mournful wail of the distant wind and the rhythmic tick-tock of the clock on the bedside table, each tick a cruel reminder of the precious moments of sleep that continued to elude you.