The invitation hung in the air between us, warm and patient. Golden light spilled from the open apartment doorway, painting a bright rectangle across the scuffed hallway tiles that stretched all the way to the toes of my boots.
I could just make out the curved edge of her sofa inside, the soft amber glow of the lamp on the side table, and the faint shift of her shadow as she moved deeper into the room. Fabric whispered against fabric, a quiet rustle that carried on the warmer air drifting out to meet me.
I stood there for one more heartbeat, the full weight of the night pressing against my ribs like a physical thing. My pulse was loud in my ears. The corridor air felt cooler against my skin, contrasting with the warmth radiating from the open doorway.
She had been close to me from the moment we crossed the Life Layer. This night hadn't been engineered by the system or mission. It had simply been a long time arriving.
