There were times when Lucius longed for a mate, someone to share his time with, someone to break the cold monotony of his existence. Today, of all days, that longing pressed harder against his chest. It was Valentine’s Day, and the office was closed, leaving him no distractions, no work to bury his thoughts.

Couples crowded every café, every street corner, laughter and hand-holding inescapable reminders of the companionship he lacked. Seeking reprieve, Lucius wandered to the park, hoping the quiet greenery would soothe the gnawing ache inside him. For a moment, the world seemed calm, the rustling leaves and distant chirping of birds a small comfort. Yet even here, the air was thick with pheromones, a subtle reminder of the bonds he had yet to find.

Then, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a man sitting on a bench, absorbed in a book. Something about him, the way he existed in his own little world, drew Lucius in. He didn’t believe in love at first sight, yet the pull was undeniable, magnetic. Every instinct in him recognized the presence, the energy, the possibility of connection.

Lucius stopped mid-step, heart tightening and pulse quickening. Something had shifted in the quiet park, a subtle twist of fate that whispered of companionship he had long thought unreachable.