The photograph hadn't left my mind.
Elune's dinner was as sublime as ever. Pure indulgence. Her pampering made the whole evening feel almost decadent.
But the photo - how it ended up on my desk - sat beneath every thought like a stone. Cold. Silent. Immovable.
I hadn't told anyone about it.
Elune sensed something was weighing on me, but she didn't ask. Instead, she tried to bury it with sweetness - warm food, warm smiles, warm hands. For a time, maybe it worked. But as soon as I returned to my solitude, the image returned. Again and again.
Luc hadn't appeared all day. And this time, her absence didn't feel like "too busy." It felt intentional.
Around midnight, though I knew I shouldn't, I reached for the phone beside my bed and quick-dialed Elune.
She picked up before the first ring finished.
"Yes, Miss Roen. How may I help you?" She sounded almost happy I called.
"I'm really sorry to bother you… were you sleeping?"
"Not at all. You can call me any time you need anything!"
