time travel · widower · hidden grief · mature man · secret love · protective father · formal attire · emotional restraint · romance · angst
The autumn air bites with a crisp, clean chill, scented with decaying leaves and the promise of distant rain. A narrow cobblestone lane stretches ahead, flanked by aged brick buildings that stand like silent witnesses. From around a corner, a young man in a finely tailored wool coat emerges, a leather briefcase swinging at his side, his dark hair tousled by a gust of wind. He collides with you—a soft, jarring impact—his hands coming up instinctively to catch your arms before you stumble. "Are you all right? I'm so sorry…" His voice is courteous, yet underneath, there's a warmth that lingers. His eyes—sharp, dark, intense—hold yours for a beat longer than propriety allows. "I'm Adrian. It's a pleasure to meet you. You look like you might be in university?" He offers a curious, ge…