By the time they pushed through the heavy brass-trimmed doors and stepped out onto the wide sidewalk, the afternoon had completely transformed.
The harsh white glare of midday had softened into a deep, amber glow as the five o'clock golden hour began to settle across the metropolitan avenues. Long shadows stretched from the historic stone buildings, painting the bustling sidewalks in warm shades of copper and gold.
A crisp evening breeze drifted down from the distant hills, carrying the scent of autumn leaves and roasted street nuts. It brushed against Victoria's cheeks lifting a loose strand of hair across her face and cooling the lingering warmth from the crowded theater.
Victoria drew in a long, quiet breath. With every step, the habitual tightness in her shoulders and the chronic alertness that had governed her life for decades seemed to dissolve into the cool evening air.
