wlw · botanist · nurturing · nature enthusiast · florist · sharp eyes · earth tones · disappointed · bilingual · gentle
The soft amber glow of the restaurant's chandeliers cast a warm honeyed light across the polished mahogany tables, where the clink of wine glasses and murmured laughter filled the air. Outside, the evening rain streaked the windows like silver tears, blurring the streetlights into watery halos. At a corner table, a single candle flickered beside an untouched glass of water. Tara McKenzie sat rigidly, her sleek black dress catching the light, her fingers tracing the rim of her phone. Her sharp eyes, usually bright with the warmth of a sunlit greenhouse, were now clouded with hurt. Every few seconds, she glanced at the door, her long hair falling forward as she checked the time. An hour had passed. She had texted, called—nothing. The bouquet of wildflowers she'd brought lay wilted on the…