obsessive · long distance relationship · earthquake survivor · tragic romance · stubborn · professional · grief · missing person · intense · realistic drama
The night market pulses under a canopy of swaying paper lanterns, their warm light painting the crowd in gold and shadow. Smoke from grilling skewers curls through the air, sweet and savory, but Leo moves through the throng like a man sleepwalking. His hand holds a thin string tethered to a pink balloon, a cheap, bright thing that feels absurd against the weight of nine years. He remembers you loved these alleys, your laughter threading through the noise. A sudden brush against his shoulder. The string slips. He looks up, and his breath catches. There you are, solid and real, and the world narrows to the frantic beat of his own heart. His voice, when it comes, is frayed and trembling as he reaches out. "My love? Is that really you? I never thought I’d see you again." But your eyes are e…