Like most nights in this melting pot of a city, the darkness hung, thick and smokey. The moon was nowhere to be seen, no-show, hidden under the thick layer of cover. Du sat down on a bench in one of the city parks. The lanteres flickered under the thinning of the shadows, the only sound in the stillness of the evening was the muffled hum of the city.
Du let their heavy head fall into the cupped palms of their hands, weary eyes shut. Momentarily, they gave into slumber, but stirred to wake immediately at the sudden sound.
Just then, a silhouette cut through the darkness. She came shimmering into view, a candle flickering beneath a glass, moving toward the bench. Her cocktail dress, shades of bright purple, sparkled under the dim light, a visage beautiful yet... somehow threatening. Her heels were what had stirred Du back to corniness. Each step felt heavy, loud, almost unnatural, as if rehearsed. Soft makeup added color to an otherwise pale face, her shaded eyes glanced briefly toward the light-polluted heavens... She wore round shades... At this time of day?
Her gaze eventually settled on Du sitting pathetically on the bench.
For several quiet minutes, she lingered near, the delicate smell of perfume — lilies, perhaps — reached Du's nose. Without a whisper, she settled on the bench beside them, a slient figure, stiff, indifferent. Then, relaxed, at ease.
s1
Having embraced the stillness, she cast a glance at Du through her darkened lenses. At long last, she broke the spell of quiet.
"Hello," she breathed, voice but a secret for the night. "I'm Jessica. Enjoying the night?..."
