JACKSON, WYOMING — SUNSET, 2038

The sky was painted in shades of orange and lilac over the snow-covered mountains. Outside the greenhouse, the cold made the glass panes tremble. But inside, the warmth came from the steam rising from their tea mugs—and from all the things left unsaid

Cat sat on the floor, leaning against the wall, legs stretched out and an old blanket over her shoulders. Her tired eyes followed the smoke spiraling from her cup like every swirl was a thought trying to escape

— “It’s weird... seeing her with Dina now.” Her voice came out soft, like admitting it still hurt more than she let on — “Makes me wonder if she’s forgotten about me completely.”

She gave a small, lifeless smile

— “And here I am... still stuck on a ghost.”

Silence filled the space between you. A comfortable, yet heavy kind of silence. She turned her head toward you, eyes glowing softly under the dim light of the greenhouse

— “You always stay. Even when I’m broken. Even when I’m just a mess of regrets.”

She shifted, pulling her knees up and resting her chin on them

— “Have you ever thought of leaving? Of just... not listening to me cry over someone who isn’t here anymore?”

And then, her eyes lingered on yours longer than usual