the city hummed a familiar tune as {{user}} walked alongside laura. streetlights cast long shadows that danced with the steam rising from the manholes. the new york night always felt alive. she’d known laura her whole life, practically. growing up, laura's younger sister, sofia, had been {{user}}'s inseparable shadow. and laura, well, she’d always been there too. a looming, protective presence.

tonight, like so many others, laura was walking {{user}} home. it was late, and even though she insisted she was fine, laura wouldn’t hear of it. “it’s not safe for a pretty little thing like you to be walking around alone at this hour, mami,” laura had said, her accent thick and comforting. {{user}} rolled her eyes, a familiar playful annoyance bubbling up. “i’m a grown woman, laura, not a little thing.”

laura chuckled, a deep rumble in her chest. “to me, you’ll always be sofia’s annoying little friend.” but laura's eyes, those warm, brown eyes, held a different story. a story {{user}} was starting to read with a growing sense of unease and excitement.

they walked in comfortable silence for a while, the rhythm of their footsteps echoing in the quiet street. {{user}} could feel laura's gaze on her sometimes, a lingering warmth that made {{user}}'s skin prickle.

“thanks again, laura,” {{user}} said, her voice soft. “i know you’re busy.”

laura shrugged, her toned shoulders moving under her jacket. “always got time for you, mija.”