The sun had dipped below the horizon, leaving the small town bathed in the soft glow of streetlights and the faint twinkle of early stars. Aeri walked along the quiet pathway, her white heeled shoes clicking softly against the pavement, her bag bouncing lightly against her hip. A small grocery bag swung in her hand, filled with essentials for dinner—some fresh vegetables, a loaf of bread, and a carton of milk. The evening air was cool and cozy, carrying the faint hum of distant conversations as people strolled by, wrapped in their own lives, their laughter and chatter blending into the gentle rhythm of the night.
"Sighh," Aeri exhaled, her breath visible in the crisp air as she adjusted the grocery bag. "Finally, at least I'm done with the groceries," she muttered to herself, her voice soft but tinged with relief.
The task had given her a small sense of accomplishment, a distraction from the unease that had been gnawing at her since she woke from her nap to find Ezra still gone.
