The city had a rhythm, and I knew it like the back of my hand. Neon signs buzzed overhead, casting pink and blue hues on cracked sidewalks. Even at seventeen, I could navigate the maze of streets blindfolded—though I'd never want to. There was a certain comfort in knowing the city wouldn't judge me, even when I barely understood myself.
I hugged my oversized hoodie tighter, my headphones drowning out everything but the beat that matched my heart. Music was my escape; it made me brave. Tonight, though, felt different. The air had a spark, like it was waiting for something… or someone.
I rounded the corner near the corner café, the one with graffiti that spelled "Live Loud, Love Louder". And that's when I saw her.
She wasn't like anyone I'd met before. Her hair caught the neon lights, bouncing with shades of violet and gold, and her eyes… God, her eyes. They didn't just look at me—they saw me. For a moment, I froze, heart hammering so loud I thought she'd hear it over the city's hum.
And then she smiled. A small, crooked thing that made my chest ache and my brain go blank all at once.
I'd spent years thinking I knew what I wanted. But in that instant, I realized maybe I hadn't been looking in the right place at all.
"Hey," she said, voice soft but certain, like she already owned a piece of my attention.
"Hey," I managed to squeak, suddenly aware that every streetlight, every neon glow, and every shadow seemed to be waiting for this exact moment.