It was supposed to be a perfect evening — nothing extravagant, just a quiet dinner, a bottle of wine, and good conversation. The kind of night that feels effortless, where laughter fills the spaces between words and time slows down just enough to feel special.
The restaurant was small but elegant, one of those softly lit places where each table felt like its own little world. The scent of roasted garlic and thyme hung in the air, mingling with low music and clinking glasses. Across from me sat Claire — warm smile, easy laugh, and eyes that seemed to take in everything. We’d met a few weeks earlier through mutual friends, and I wanted tonight to be a step forward.
The conversation flowed easily. We talked about work, travel, childhood stories, and dreams that felt both close and far away. For once, I felt fully present — no phone, no distractions, just the gentle rhythm of connection. When dessert came, I ordered coffee to stretch the night a little longer. Everything felt right.
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