‘We both leaned in close, the scent of red plum and sugarcane mingling with my old leather coat. Our eyes searched for each other, steady and unyielding. “Is there someone else?” broke the silence in a low voice. I paused, letting the musk of the room settle around us. Doubt flickered in this gaze, and I wanted to wipe it away. “Only you, babe,” I said, the words slipping out easily. The air hung heavy yet light and I couldn’t tell if the relief was real or just a moment’s reprieve.’ – Blind Barber
