The Words Left Unsaid

The night had settled comfortably, but a certain hush had come over the place as families slowly filtered out, arms full of prizes and children sleepily trailing behind.

Felix, Katherine, and the twins had found a quiet bench tucked near a fountain, away from the bustling main paths. The bench was long but cluttered—their many shopping bags acting as a buffer between the two adults. Nathan and Maya sat between them, swinging their legs as they sipped the last of their slushies, cheeks flushed from a long day of fun.

Katherine leaned back slightly, her hand resting on Maya's back while she absentmindedly scanned the crowd. Felix sat at the other end, legs slightly parted, elbows on his knees, fingers loosely interlocked. He stared at the fountain, water softly trickling down the stone tiers, his jaw relaxed but unreadable.