The rooftop garden of Osborn Restaurant was a serene oasis after dinner, the city's hum fading into a gentle murmur beneath the enchanting glow of bioluminescent vines that twisted gracefully around the terrace railings.
Sophia leaned against the balcony, her fingers gliding over the cool condensation on her glass of sparkling elderflower tonic.
The crisp night air carried a whisper of jasmine from the restaurant's lush vertical gardens, wrapping around her like a soft embrace.
Billy found her there ten minutes after he'd excused himself from the table, his dress shoes clicking rhythmically against the glass tiles.
He had loosened his tie and undone the first two buttons of his shirt, as if he'd been grappling with an invisible force.
"You ran away," Sophia remarked without turning her head.
"I needed air." He stepped closer, their shoulders nearly brushing together. Below them, Neo-Luminara sprawled out like an endless canvas of light and shadow.
